Will GM Grass Destroy Grassfed Farming?

July 11, 2011

In a move that is both shocking and yet not that hard to believe, the USDA has announced that it does not consider a lawn grass genetically engineered to resist a weedkiller within its regulatory domain.

In other words, this means that they have opened the door and invited Roundup Ready grass into our lawns, fields and grass fed animals.

Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.  invented this glyphosate tolerant variety of Kentucky bluegrass, which now has the green light to become a commercial product. 

What does this mean for farmers?

For grass fed meat producers, their grasses are the foundation of the business. Their customers expect an animal that has been raised and finished on grass, natural, non GM grass. Of course, no farmer would plant Kentucky bluegrass in his or her pasture willingly. The problem lies in the same minefield as GM corn. The inability of the producer to protect his or her non GM crop from GM plants moving in.

What does this mean for consumers?

So now what? How will we as a consumer, know that grassfed meat is non GM grassfed beef? Aren't we going to run out of room on the label after a while?  Are these questions that NOone else thinks about? 

 

 

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