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Environment and Sustainability Task Force:

Food and Agriculture Issues Working Group

Overview of Policy on Food and Agriculture Issues

Environmental Impact of Agriculture: The current system of large-scale commercial farming and food advertising and distribution in the United States, which is heavily subsidized by the government, takes an enormous toll on our soil and water, consumes vast amounts of fossil fuels, contributes to global warming, and promotes obesity and attendant ailments. PDA advocates shifting government support to organic and local, family farms and to promoting healthy food choices and humane treatment of farm animals. (See policy paper for more detail on this position.)

Genetically Modified Organisms: PDA advocates close government control of the use of GMOs, allowing for their wise use in the treatment of disease but protecting against contamination of the food supply by engineered organisms, allowing consumers to have full information about the presence of GMOs in food markets, and protecting farmers from undue corporate control of their seed supplies. (See policy paper for more detail on this position.)

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Policy Position Papers

The following white papers describe our policies in depth on issues related to the environment and sustainability. Unless otherwise indicated, all papers have been ratified by the PDA grassroots via our National Spokescouncil. Those papers marked as DRAFT are working drafts which are not yet ratified. We encourage you to send comments or suggestions by clicking on the "comment" link after each draft.

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What You Can Do

Our task force recommends the following actions for individuals and groups. Follow the links for tips, tools, and suggestions.

• (Individual) Lobby to get the "Genetically Engineered Right to Know Act" passed into law.
• (Group) Organize a True Cost of Food Dinner Group and promote the use of local, organic produce in your community.
• (Group) Have a Kraft Video party and lobby the country's largest food company to stop using GMOs.

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Educational and Action Resources

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy -- promoting "resilient family farms,rural communities, and ecosystems around the world." Check out their fact sheet on "The costs of cheap food" and their "Smart meat and dairy guide."

Sierra Club True cost of Food video

For a comprehensive discussion of the potential dangers from genetically modified foods, see The Campaign: Grassroots Political Action.

GMO-Free Europe

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In the News

4/03/2005 Ocean Ecosystems Plagued By Agricultural Runoff, Stanford University/Science Daily, March, 2005.

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