Help block GM canola in the Willamette Valley

This is not a Eugene Chapter petition. We post it as a service to our local members:

I currently have collected 2919 signatures in just one week for my petition to stop the introduction of GM canola into the Willamette Valley. Please read the following:

The Oregon Department of Agriculture is currently pushing to open 2500 acres of Oregon land to GM canola farming.

Oregon is a major producer of the world’s seeds for European cabbage, Brussels sprouts, rutabaga and turnips. The introduction of GMO canola would not only threaten the livelihood of these seed farmers but it would also pose serious dangers (such as increased pesticide use & herbicide resistant superweeds) to the environment.

GM Canola has been genetically altered to withstand the herbicide Roundup; allowing farmers to spray more herbicide without destroying their crops.. The cross-pollination of GM crops with weeds creates superweeds that are also herbicide resistant. The Huffington Post reported that more than two dozen weed species have become “resistant to Roundup’s chief ingredient glyphosate, causing farmers to use increasing amounts both of glyphosate and other weed killing chemicals to try to control the so-called “superweeds.” The dilemma facing farmers is now driving up the “volume of herbicide needed each year by about 25 percent” And farmers are being for ced to expand use of older, more dangerous herbicides in order to deal with the new superweeds. GM Canola has become itself an herbicide resistant weed found growing in California.

That’s why I created a petition to “Stop the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s decision to open 2500 acres to GM Canola.”

Can you help us collect more signatures?

Thank you 🙂

http://signon.org/sign/stop-gm-canola-in-oregon?source=c.fwd&r_by=2133151

Thanks again!
Kendra

1 comment to Help block GM canola in the Willamette Valley

  • Kathleen Rutecki

    It is unacceptable to allow canola, GM or not, to pollute the Willamette Valley. It endangers established seed growers and the heritage varieties they grow. It endangers the health of us all who live here from increased pesticide use.