| ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE Q-04 Yes on Measure Ql Genetic engineering (GE) is a process that never occurs
in nature. This technology is different from traditional plant breeding.
GE organisms are created by forcing the genes from one species into
another. Measure Q: YES for our economy! Keeping SLO County free of genetically engineered (GE)
crops maintains our strong agricultural economy. Our U.S. and international trading partners are demanding
GE free crops. Having pure crops will ensure a market advantage for
our county's $529 million agricultural economy. The American Farm Bureau estimates that U.S. exporters
have lost about $300 million per year because of GE corn. San Luis Obispo has an abundant and diverse farming
and ranching economy. Why jeopardize what is working for something that is
economically risky and unproven? Measure Q: YES for farms and farmers! GE food, pharmaceutical and industrial crops can contaminate
conventional food crops at many points: seed production and transport,
cross-pollination, harvest, milling, storing, and processing. Such contamination has already occurred: ¥
In 2001,1 of Iowa
cornfields were planted with a GE corn but 50 of Iowa's corn harvest was contaminated. ¥ In
2002, a pharmaceutical corn contaminated soybeans grown on the same ground a year later. 500,000 bushels of soybeans
were destroyed. Contamination raises liability questions for farmers
and property owners. From 2001-2003, over 73 million more pounds of pesticides
were applied on GE acres than on non-GE acres. Some GE crops are classified as pesticides by the EPA.
The plant is the pesticide! Yes on Ql Fetzer Vineyards states: "... as the U.S.'s organic
vineyard leader, Fetzer supports Measure Q as appropriate action until such
time as the long-term consequences of GMO crops and animals in the food chain
are fully understood." Measure Q is good for what we grow. It's good for what
we eat. www.sloqefree.orq s/ Terri Carlson, M.D. s/ Dr. Margaret C. Carman s/ Eric Michielssen, Co-Owner, dark Valley Farm s/ Bill Spencer, Owner, Windrose Farm s/ Matt Trevisan, Owner & Winemaker, Linne Calodo Winery |
ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE Q-04 GENETIC RESEARCH IS ABOUT BENEFITING SOCIETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT MEASURE Q WILL NOT IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
. Through genetic modification, farmers apply less pesticides
and herbicides and also reduce the cultivation of a field. This improves
air and water quality through lower emissions from tractors and less soil compaction.
Moreover, worker safety is improved. Current genetic research is underway
to combat Pierces Disease and West Nile Virus, which could benefit the
community. MEASURE Q PREVENTS A SAFE, HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE FOOD SUPPLY The United Nations, World Health Organization, American
Medical Association, and the National Academy of Sciences have examined
the health and safety issues The UN recently reported that genetically modified
crops "pose no more risk than conventionally grown crops" and "there
have been no verifiable reports of them causing any significant health or environmental
harm." MEASURE Q COULD DENY CITIZENS LIFE-SAVING TECHNIQUES Researchers are creating ways to boost the nutritional
value of foods using genetic modification. For example, Vitamin A was added
to rice to assist with the fight against hunger in developing nations. Furthermore,
this technology has already yielded significant advances in the battle
against diabetes, Parkinson's, AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening
diseases. MEASURE Q COULD CUT VITAL SERVICES AND INCREASE TAXES This initiative calls for the county Ag Commissioner
to execute the prohibition. With the current fiscal status of our county and state,
this un-funded mandate will increase the financial burden on all of our pocketbooks.
Three federal consumer protection agencies - the FDA, EPA and USDA
- are already responsible for assuring the safety of genetically
modified organisms. MEASURE Q IS NOT BASED ON SOUND SCIENCE MEASURE Q IS NOT SOUND POLICY VOTE NO ON MEASURE QI s/ Thomas T Ikeda, President San Luis Obispo County
Farm Bureau s/ Jan Haynes Director, San Luis Obispo-based medical
device company Member, Cal Poly Biotechnology Industry Advisory Council s/ Richard Quandt, President Grower-Shipper Vegetable
Association s/ Lauren R. Brown, Ph.D. Manager, local biotechnology
company Member, Cal Poly Biotechnology Industry Advisory Council s/ Kevin Merrill, President Central Coast Wine Growers Association |
| REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE Q-04 Measure Q maintains our safe, healthy, and affordable
agriculture. Measure Q prohibits the growing of GE organisms, not
the sale of foods or medicines. Measure QWLL ALLOW ... university research. ... all currently used grape growing practices. ... farm workers to be safe from increased chemical
use that accompanies GE herbicide tolerant crops. ... the use of animal feed with GE byproducts. ... private property to remain free from GE contamination. ... the planting of "Vitamin A Rice" - or
other crops - in developing countries. Measure Q: YES for GOOD Science. GE is technology,
not science - and it's unproven. The FDA, EPA, and USDA leave testing of GE crops to
the same companies that make them. The Center for Food Safety
believes such ax testing requirements must be improved before there
can be confidence in the safety of GE foods. The National Academy of Sciences agreed in a July 27,2004
report: "A significant research effort should be made
to support analytical methods of technology... to detect health changes in
the population that could result from genetic alteration and, specifically,
genetic engineering of ' food." Genetic engineering isn't the path to progress. Techniques that use genetics and biotechnology, like marker-assisted breeding,
can solve problems like Pierce's Disease without the risks of GE. Testing for the presence of GE is not expensive. Enforcement
costs would be tiny compared to the billions lost to U.S. agriculture
and taxpayers because of GE crops. Measure Q: YES for pure and wholesome SLO agriculture. s/ Mike Cirone, Owner, drone Farms s/ Irv McMillan, Rancher s/ Lyie Overiey, Nipomo Flower & Tomato Grower s/ Jeffrey W. Pipes, Owner, Pipestone Vineyards s/ Ryan Rich, Owner, Four Elements Farm PR2005-4 N SL 045-027 |
REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE Q-04 MEASURE Q ISN'T JUST ABOUT CROPS. GMOs and GMO products are widely used in diverse industries
including medicine, food and beverage production, as well as
agriculture. Q BANS PRODUCTION OF ALL GMOs IN OUR COUNTY. Likely impacts include: ¥ Technology
jobs go elsewhere because SLO is labeled unfriendly to technology. ¥ Development
of life-saving medicines like insulin and cancer treatments prohibited. ¥ Development
of cleaner industrial processes using GMOs prohibited. ¥ Cost-saving,
environment-friendly crops outlawed. Q CANNOT BE ENFORCED. ¥ Ag
Commissioner has no current expertise or funding to regulate all GMOs. ¥ Developing
expertise would be extremely expensive to SLO citizens. Q HARMS SLO'S BROAD FARM ECONOMY. ¥ American
Farm Bureau estimates a gain of $1 BILLION in trade for GMO soybeans to China alone. ¥ Hawaii's
papaya industry was saved from a devastating virus because of the development of GMO papaya trees. ¥
Grape growers will be able to protect their industry from Pierce's Disease. GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT! ¥ International
acceptance for GMO crops is growing (EU just approved GMO sweet corn; 4 million farmers in China
grow GE cotton). ¥ GMO
crops are safe (all evidence shows biotech crops are as safe as non-biotech crops). ¥ GMO
crops reduce use of more expensive, toxic, carcinogenic or persistent chemical treatments. MAKE YOUR DECISION BASED ON FACTS. NOT ON FEARFUL CLAIMS. For more information, check balanced websites like: ¥ Cornell
University: http://www.qeo- pie.cornell.edu/issues/issues.htmland http://www.nvsaes.cornell.edu/comm/qmo// ¥
Colorado State University: http://www.colostate.edu/proqrams/lifesciences/TransqenicCrops/ BE INFORMED. NOONQI s/Eric Djafroodi, President Central Coast Greenhouse
Growers Association s/Scott Steinmaus, Ph.D. Plant Biologist s/Roger A. Miller, President San Luis Obispo County
Cattlemen Association s/Susan EIrod, Ph.D. Geneticist s/Don Talley, Owner Talley Vineyards PR2005-3 I SL 045-026 |