A24-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 27. 2000 SYRACUSE, N.Y. aic genetically engineered vegeta bles environmentally friendly or ecologically threatening? Future foods or frankenfoods? The key to preventing starvation in Third World countries? Good business? Stupid science? Sus tainable? Unsustainable? These and other questions were addressed in a four-hour forum held Feb. 7 during the New York State (NYS) Vegeta ble Growers Association annual conference. The event, which organizers believe was the first to address the GMO (genetically modified organism) issue in a grower set ting, was attended by more than 100 growers, processors, and ag ricultural scientists. The six presenters at the Becker 2000 Forum offered mul tiple perspectives on the topic: “Genetically Engineered Vege tables: Are They Worth It?” The Learning To Market New York’s Summer Tree Fruits (Contlnuad from Pago A 23) High-density orchard systems are of particu lar interest to growers whose key objective is ear lier cropping and higher early yields. Terence Robinson, Cornell professor of horticultural sci ences who specializes in training systems for fruit trees at the Experiment Station in Geneva, addressed whether or not orchard systems arc adaptable to particular crops and, if so, the labor efficiencies and pest control that can be gained. Robinson and colleagues are trying out six new sweet cherry experiments at Geneva designed to keep trees small and get them to bear earlier. Rain-induced fruit cracking and bird damage could be drastically reduced by covering small trees with frames, nets and retractable plastic covers. In talking about stone fruit diversification, Andersen said there is a keen interest in high density cherries among New York fruit growers because like prune plums fresh sweet cher ries arc particularly healthful. He described “nu triceuticai” as a term that will dictate marketing the medical benefits of plants, especially fruits and vegetables. Peaches suffer from declining per capita con sumption because they arrive on New York tables from distant states too green to ripen with really good taste. “Locally grown fresh peaches can be picked riper and will achieve full taste,” said Andersen. Processed peaches have also declined in con sumption, but New York-grown processing peaches are gaining attention from Canadian and New York-based processors because of new varieties being bred for Eastern North American climates. High-density peach orchards can pro duce fruit earlier and with higher yields. Locally processed means reduced transportation costs an important factor to consider when raw fruit represents only 20 percent of the final cost. More Research Is Needed Bittner, chairman of the Northeast Stone Fruit Sponsors, spoke for many of those present, noting much work needs to be done to support stone fruit research. “The Northeast Stone Fruit Sponsors must find a way to fund the research that needs to be done to make the growing of stone fruits in the Northeast a profitable option for growers. Some options include membership dues, grants, an in dustry checkoff, and the licensing of plant pat ents and trademarks that returns funds to research programs. Once funds are collected, a program similar to the Apple Research and De velopment Board would be set up to select and fund grower-identified research projects.” Genetically Engineered Vegetables: six included two genetic plant breeders from Cornell Univer sity, a seed company representa tive for the controversial Bt sweet corn, a vegetable proces sor who has decided to drop Bt corn from its 2000 line, a con sumer advocate, and a crop pro duction researcher concerned about trade policies. “The goal of the forum was to educate growers about the po tential risk and benefits of genetically engineered crops in their planting and marketing schemes, help increase their un derstanding of the basic science and technologies involved, and increase their ability to answer questions from concerned con sumers,” said Anu Rangarajan, a statewide specialist in fresh market vegetable production, and Cornell University profes sor of vegetable science, who or ganized and moderated the forum. U.S. farmers have been placed squarely in the middle of the debate between seed dealers, chemical companies, American trade policy, and foreign and do mestic consumers on the GMO issue. A recent survey conducted by the American Corn Growers Association indicated a signifi cant reduction in the acreages of Roundup Ready corn, Bt corn, and Roundup Ready soybeans being planned for the 2000 season, largely because of con sumer concerns. Currently, there are only two commercially available genetically engineered vegetables: Bt sweet corn and a virus resistant squash. Steve KreSovich, who is a Cornell plant breeder and direc tor of the Institute of Genomic Diversity, talked about scientific and environmental considera tions. “His explanation of con ventional breeding versus Boy Ag Systorns OPEN muse May 31st • 10 a.m. Three Springs, PA (Fulton Co.) F&atarinfr a 180 Fre&staii, Dee>f> Pit Dairef Barn Directions: Exit 13 off PA Turnpike. 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Mon.-Fri. 7 to 5-.30 [Pf 24 Hour Service by our Team of Qualified 5/26/00 Sat ’ 7:3o to N °° n Technicians Invites you to attend an KNffPER FARMS Are They Worth It? genetic engineering, was most valuable to me,” said one grower. “I didn’t realize how many intentional and uninten tional consequences they were in both types of breeding.” Dennis Gonsalves, plant pathologist at Cornell’s New York State Agricultural Experi ment Station, in Geneva, N.Y., who is responsible for the com mercialization of two virus resis tant crops in the U.S. papaya and squash outlined the 15- year project that led to the revi talization of the papaya industry in Hawaii. “Through the intro duction of genetically engi neered papaya that is resistant to the papaya ringspot virus, farmers whose livelihoods were ruined have now been able to re plant,” said Gonsalves. “If you ask them if this is a successful technology, they and their fami lies will say ‘yes’.” Precast Slats Lebanon Valiev Ent< Gates & Stalls Northbrook Michael Hansen, of the Con sumers Union, was an advocate for caution and incredulity on the part of the consumer. “In the U.S., at least, there is virtu ally no regulation of genetically engineered crops on the part of the FDA, the EPA and the USDA,” said Hansen. Accord ing to Hansen, health risks in cluded transfer of toxins, allergens, antibiotic resistance, and a change in nutrient levels many of which are uninten tional and untested risks. He ad vocated mandatory labeling so consumers can decide for them selves which products to buy. Tom Facer, of Agrilink Foods, outlined the processor’s decision to drop Bt sweet corn from their product line in 2000. “It’s not that the technology doesn’t work,”he said, citing as an ex ample the state of Georgia, -2 p.m. FEATURING: Keystone Concrete Cow Mattresses (Turn to Pago A 25) rise rms Inc.
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