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SLO-GATE: The San Luis Obispo GMO Task Force

 

In the summer of 2004, one of the hottest measures in the June County election was measure Q, aimed at stopping the spread of GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) within San Luis Obispo County. A series of contested debates between PRO-GMO people and NO-GMO (measure Q supporters) drew the interest of thousands of voters. In the end, the PRO-GMO group won by a slim margin, 57% of the votes.

Within the midst of these issues, the SLO County Health Commission decided to form a “balanced task force,” to “develop a qualified statement on the safety and merits, or lack thereof, of GMO foods.” On the surface, this is an admirable objective.

The end result, however, is very disturbing, our very own SLO-GATE.

Unfortunately, the SLO County Health Commission
created a GMO Task Force that:

  • Ignored the Public Will in the June 2004 election
  • Denied any representation of NO-GMO advocates
  • Stacked the deck with PRO-GMO hardliners – with vested interests
  • Ignored, and hid, serious big business conflicts of interest
  • Made the initial appointments in secret
  • Held meetings which openly and consistently attacked all NO-GMO scientists
  • Made overt attempts at disqualifying every NO-GMO scientific report
  • Chose to ignore serious government conflicts of interest
  • Chose to ignore the total lack of long term testing on GMO foods
  • Predictably produced a one-sided Final Report that is extremely PRO-GMO
  • Violated the Public Trust
  • Suggested that the County spend public money on creating brochures, based on the Final Report, to “further educate” the public.

The GMO Task Force membership was GMO Task Force membership was formed in secrecy by the Health Commission and was composed primarily of pro-GMO political advocates, including a researcher funded by Monsanto1, and a former
GMO industry representative, Michael Broadhurst2. Anyone who openly questioned the safety of genetically engineered crops or who publicly supported Measure Q was not appointed to the GMO Task Force.

The loudest voice in the campaign to destroy Measure Q, Scott Steinmaus, was actually appointed as the co-chair of the Task Force. He is currently funded by some of the largest pro-GMO corporations in America.

This issue, by itself, should totally disqualify and invalidate both the Task Force and its Final Report.

Lynn Enns, one of the members, actually said that “no one involved in the Measure Q campaign was to be involved in the GMO Task Force Committee.” This, too, should disqualify the Task Force and invalidate the Final Report.

Throughout the public meetings, and true to their expected nature, this Task Force has consistently disregarded and viciously attacked almost every single scientist, and report, that disagrees with them. Dozens of San Luis Obispo county citizens publicly spoke out at Health Commission meetings about the many problems surrounding the GMO task force.

Several articles were published by local newspapers which reported on and questioned these same issues
In contrast to San Luis Obispo County’s investigation is Santa Cruz County’s.

Both counties are similar in many ways: leaning towards liberal political viewpoints but also supporting a vibrant farming business community. And both formed a Task Force to investigate GMO/GE (called “Genetically Engineered” in Santa Cruz). But there are major differences, in the integrity of the task force committees and in their final conclusions. The San Luis Obispo GMO Task Force, as previously mentioned, riddled with serious conflicts of interest and a one-sided PRO-GMO membership, eventually produced a one-sided PROGMO report.

In stark contrast, the Santa Cruz GE Subcommittee, made up of a broad spectrum of community members including the county agriculture commissioner, Farm Bureau members, organic farmers, local food activists, and the director of the county Health Service Agency, among others, spent more than 10 months researching and analyzing the health, environmental, economic and social risks associated with the growing of GE crops in the county.

Based on their research, they voted to recommend a Precautionary Moratorium to county supervisors. On June 6th, 2006 the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to support the adoption of a Precautionary Moratorium on the planting of GE crops in the county.

The serious conflicts of interest and betrayals of public trust by the San Luis Obispo GMO Task Force are far too great to ignore. Moreover, the threat of further public mischief and misinformation is a grave concern. We need to urge the County Board of Supervisors to consider disbanding, and disqualifying, the GMO Task Force and its Final Report.


1 http://tinyurl.com/fomjl, Elucidating the Genetic Mechanism of Glyphosate (Roundup®) Resistance in a Biotype of Weedy Ryegrass

2 Michael Broadhurst was the head of research and development for North America for Zeneca Ag (now Syngenta) where he oversaw research on GMO crops

 

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