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–IFOAM – Organics International– supports –The Letter from America–

?IFOAM ? Organics International? is supporting ?The Letter from America?, an open letter from 57 million Americans to the citizens, politicians, and regulators of the UK and the rest of the European Union highlighting the hazards of genetically modified crops and calling on them not to follow the US example when it comes to GMOs.
We are proud that the North American Office of ?IFOAM ? Organics International? has become a signatory of ?The Letter from America?, a fully referenced letter detailing the problems and challenges that American farmers, consumers and others have faced since the first commercialized genetically engineered crops were planted almost two decades ago.
Signed by groups and individuals representing 57 million members and supporters at its launch, the Letter continues to gather momentum; its current representative signature count is more than 60 million.
The Letter argues, amongst other things, that GM crops have never delivered on their promises to increase yields and profits or to decrease pesticide use. In fact, they have done the opposite with the cost of growing GM crops now greater than conventional crops in the US and pesticide use 24% higher amongst GM farmers than non-GM farmers planting the same crops.
Commenting on the decision to sign, David Gould, our North America representative and Value Chain Facilitator said ?the irresponsible environmental release of GMOs continues to cause significant ecosystem damage. ?IFOAM – Organics International? therefore calls for policy reform to ensure the common good, and encourages consumers to demand and proactively support non-GMO supply chains. We must stand together to bring society on a path toward truly sustainable agriculture – one based on organic practices supported by state-of-the art technical innovations that respect the ?Principles of Organic Agriculture.?
Pat Thomas, Director of the campaigning group Beyond GM, which initiated the Letter, said ?we are so pleased to welcome IFOAM ? Organics International to the list of influential signatories to the Letter from America. As an organization with organic principles at its very heart, IFOAM and its members in the US and Canada ? as well as worldwide ? exemplify how sustainable agricultural practices are working right now to help farmers, to support ethical business models and to put food on people?s tables.?
You can read the full letter here.
The Letter from America: http://www.theletterfromamerica.org is a project of the campaigning group Beyond GM (www.beyond-gm.org). For more information contact: Pat Thomas, Director, pa@beyond-gm.org

–IFOAM – Organics International– is the international umbrella organization of the organic world. For more information contact: David Gould, North America Representative & Value Chain Facilitator, d.gould@ifoam.bio, or visit www.ifoam.bio.