Center for Food Safety
Encyclopedia
The Center for Food Safety (CFS) is a U.S. non-profit organization, based in Washington, D.C.
, that also maintains an office in San Francisco, CA. The Center works to protect human health and the environment, focusing on the use of harmful food production technologies.
.
Also, among the issues the organization works on are: genetically modified foods, organic food standards, aquaculture
, animal cloning, food irradiation
, synthetic hormones (such as bovine somatropin), and mad cow disease.
One of the projects of the Center is organizing The True Food Network, which is a grass-roots action network dedicated to building a socially just, democratic, and sustainable food system. This is where activists can make sure that all critical food safety issues are addressed.
.
. This was a ruling in regard to Roundup Ready alfalfa
. This legal challenge was coordinated by the Center for Food Safety.
The case goes back to 2006, when organic farmers
, concerned about the impact of GM alfalfa on their crops, sued Monsanto. In response, the California Northern District Court
ruled that the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) was in error when it approved the planting of Roundup Ready alfalfa. According to the presiding judge, the law required the USDA to first conduct a full environmental study, which it had not done. It was the concern of the organic growers that the GM alfalfa could cross-pollinate with their organic alfalfa, making their crops unsalable in countries that forbid the growing of GM crops.
The impact of the current US Supreme Court ruling is somewhat unclear, with both sides appearing to claim victory. While Monsanto can claim technical victory in the case, various other issues still remain open, and will likely be litigated in the future. Meanwhile, the planting of GM alfalfa currently remains halted in the US, and it is unclear when it may resume.
has been considering the case involving the planting of genetically modified sugar beets. This case involves Monsanto's breed of pesticide-resistant sugar beets. This lawsuit was also organised by the Center for Food Safety.
Earlier in 2010, Judge Jeffrey S. White allowed the planting of GM sugar beets to continue, but he also warned that this may be blocked in the future while an environmental review was taking place. Finally, on 13 August, 2010, Judge White ordered the halt to the planting of the genetically modified sugar beets in the US. He indicated that "the Agriculture Department had not adequately assessed the environmental consequences before approving them for commercial cultivation."
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, that also maintains an office in San Francisco, CA. The Center works to protect human health and the environment, focusing on the use of harmful food production technologies.
Objectives of the Center
The Center promotes organic foods and sustainable agricultureSustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture is the practice of farming using principles of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment...
.
Also, among the issues the organization works on are: genetically modified foods, organic food standards, aquaculture
Aquaculture
Aquaculture, also known as aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants. Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions, and can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is the...
, animal cloning, food irradiation
Food irradiation
Food irradiation is the process of exposing food to ionizing radiation to destroy microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, or insects that might be present in the food. Further applications include sprout inhibition, delay of ripening, increase of juice yield, and improvement of re-hydration...
, synthetic hormones (such as bovine somatropin), and mad cow disease.
One of the projects of the Center is organizing The True Food Network, which is a grass-roots action network dedicated to building a socially just, democratic, and sustainable food system. This is where activists can make sure that all critical food safety issues are addressed.
History
The Center was founded in 1997. Its executive director is a long time consumer advocate, public interest attorney, environmental activist, and author Andrew Kimbrell. Its sister organisation is International Center for Technology AssessmentInternational Center for Technology Assessment
The International Center for Technology Assessment is a U.S. non-profit bi-partisan organization, based in Washington, D.C.. ICTA aims to provide the public with full assessments and analyses of technological impacts on society...
.
Legal cases in the US against Genetically Modified crops
The Center was active in organising a coalition of organic food activists and environmentalists to launch important legal challenges against the planting of Genetically Modified crops in the US.Alfalfa
On 21 June, 2010, the US Supreme Court issued its first ruling in regard to a GM crop in the case Monsanto Co. v. Geertson Seed FarmsMonsanto Co. v. Geertson Seed Farms
Monsanto Co. vs. Geertson Seed Farms is a U.S. Supreme Court case decided 7-1 in which several groups including Geertson Seed Farms filed suit and challenged the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on their decision to completely deregulate Roundup Ready Alfalfa , a genetically...
. This was a ruling in regard to Roundup Ready alfalfa
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
. This legal challenge was coordinated by the Center for Food Safety.
The case goes back to 2006, when organic farmers
Organic farming
Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm...
, concerned about the impact of GM alfalfa on their crops, sued Monsanto. In response, the California Northern District Court
United States District Court for the Northern District of California
The United States District Court for the Northern District of California is the federal United States district court whose jurisdiction comprises following counties of California: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San...
ruled that the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
(USDA) was in error when it approved the planting of Roundup Ready alfalfa. According to the presiding judge, the law required the USDA to first conduct a full environmental study, which it had not done. It was the concern of the organic growers that the GM alfalfa could cross-pollinate with their organic alfalfa, making their crops unsalable in countries that forbid the growing of GM crops.
The impact of the current US Supreme Court ruling is somewhat unclear, with both sides appearing to claim victory. While Monsanto can claim technical victory in the case, various other issues still remain open, and will likely be litigated in the future. Meanwhile, the planting of GM alfalfa currently remains halted in the US, and it is unclear when it may resume.
Sugar beets
In 2009-2010, the United States District Court for the Northern District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Northern District of California
The United States District Court for the Northern District of California is the federal United States district court whose jurisdiction comprises following counties of California: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San...
has been considering the case involving the planting of genetically modified sugar beets. This case involves Monsanto's breed of pesticide-resistant sugar beets. This lawsuit was also organised by the Center for Food Safety.
Earlier in 2010, Judge Jeffrey S. White allowed the planting of GM sugar beets to continue, but he also warned that this may be blocked in the future while an environmental review was taking place. Finally, on 13 August, 2010, Judge White ordered the halt to the planting of the genetically modified sugar beets in the US. He indicated that "the Agriculture Department had not adequately assessed the environmental consequences before approving them for commercial cultivation."