Mark FergussonDirector & Vice President Hawaii Organic Farmers

Association (HOFA)Founding Member Label It Hawaii

Chief Vegetarian Officer (CEO/CFO), Down to Earth

Seeds of Truth & Down to Earth

Present a Panel Discussion

“Let’s Eat Non-GMO: The Importance of Labeling”

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Non-GMO

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Ua Mau ke Ea o ka `Āina i ka Pono

“The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness” • Hawaii’s state motto was first

uttered by Queen Ke'opuolani in 1825 on becoming a Christian convert

• Righteousness can be understood as “right” or “right action” 

• GMOs are not “right,” they disrespect and lead to the desecration of the ‘āina, both here in Hawaii and worldwide

• GMO’s are not pono

Non-GMO

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Ua Mau ke Ea o ka `Āina i ka Pono

“The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness” • Hawaii is known as the “Aloha” state

• However, Hawaii is the producer of much of the world’s GMO seed crop and functions as a research lab for GMO

• Instead of spreading aloha, Hawaii is potentially spreading widespread disease and premature death

Non-GMO

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Contents• What are GMOs?• How are GMOs

Regulated?• GMOs In Your Food• GMO Labeling• Down to Earth & GMOs

Non-GMO

Plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology

DNA from one species is injected into another species, creating combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, and viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional methods

What are GMOs?

Non-GMO

GMO Traits • Resistance to herbicides - 75% of GMO crops are bred for herbicide tolerance (e.g. “Roundup Ready”)

• Pesticides in the plants themselves - Engineered to produce Bt (pesticide) in their DNA• No GM traits are in commercial

production for increased yields, drought tolerance or nutritional superiority

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Non-GMO

How Are GMOs Regulated?

•FDA says GMOs are non-different from other foods and thus require no special regulation or government testing•There is no requirement for independent testing of biotech crops •USDA & FDA are staffed by many ex- Monsanto and other biotech people

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Non-GMO

Concerns•A myriad of known and unknown consequences have resulted from the release of GMOs into nature (e.g. health, environmental, ecological, increased herbicide use, harm to farmers, etc.)•The eco-system is a complex inter-related system… we disrespect its intricacies at our own peril

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Non-GMO

Concerns

•Cultures that trample over nature do not survive in the long term•Just because scientists have the technical know how to manipulate nature does not mean that they should•We need to respect mother nature and understand our place within her, not play “God”

GMO = God Move Over

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Non-GMO

GMO Production in the U.S. 86%

93%Corn:Soy:

Cotton:Sugar Beet:

Canola:

93%

95%

Other GM crops that are grown commercially include Hawaiian Papaya, zucchini, and summer squash.

+90%

*GMO Production in the U.S. (according to 2010 figures) Recent data for Canola is not available; this percentage was approximated by using 2007 figures (87%) and Canadian figures from 2009 (95%)

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Non-GMO

GMA Estimate

The Grocery Manufacturers Association estimates that GMOs are now present in 75 to 80% of conventional processed food.

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Non-GMO

GMO Labeling• No way to know if

something is GMO unless it is labeled

• If mandatory labeling is introduced that will be the beginning of the end of GMO: Many consumers

likely won’t buy products labeled as GMO 12

Non-GMO

• We are fighting the same corporations that brought us DDT and Agent Orange

• These companies want to deny us our right to know what’s in our food

• The cost of labeling (including testing and processes to prevent contamination) will be passed onto consumers

• The real cost of GMOs are borne by society, not the GMO companies

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GMO Labeling

Non-GMO

“USDA Organic”• The National Organic

Program (NOP) identifies GMOs as an “excluded method”

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Labeling: Labels we do have!

Non-GMO

• “Non-GMO Project Verified” labeled food– As of July 25, 2012, 5,000

products approved

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Labeling: Labels we do have!

• Clear labeling that empowers consumers across the U.S. and Canada to make safe, healthy non-GMO choices for themselves and their families.

• One of the fastest growing categories in the natural products industry

Non-GMO

1. Promote the sale of Non-GMO foods

2. GMO free perishables & whole products

3. Reduce the number of products that potentially contain GMO

4. Limit and control the introduction of any new products that may contain GMOs

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Our aim is to become an all Organic Non-GMO store within 3-5 years

Down to Earth’s GMO Policy

Non-GMO

• Speaking out about GMOs

• Educating customers

• Educating grocery industry members

• Leadership in organizations opposed to GMO

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Down to Earth & GMOs

Non-GMO

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Follow us: www.facebook.com/StopGMOs

Down to Earth’s GMO FB Page

Non-GMO

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Ua Mau ke Ea o ka `Āina i ka Pono

“The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness”