American Farm Bureau Announces Get a Move On for GMOs Campaign

/ VFB Governmental Relations
AFBF President
Bob Stallman
As things heat up on the biotech labeling front, AFBF is providing a new resource to engage farmers and ranchers in the debate. This week, we are launching our Get a Move On for GMOs campaign. A Get a Move On website—at getamoveon.fb.org—is the first campaign resource we are rolling out. It explains why farmers and ranchers must be on the frontlines of defending access to biotechnology, how much is at stake if we lose that access, and why supporting a voluntary labeling bill is important. A “Take Action Now” link makes it easy for farmers and ranchers to urge members of Congress to support the voluntary labeling bill.

While GMO opponents want labeling mandates, Farm Bureau and food makers support a more reasonable approach. The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (H.R. 1599) would establish that FDA is the nation’s foremost authority on food safety and create a voluntary labeling program run by USDA—similar to the USDA Organic Program. With a growing and troubling patchwork of state and local labeling requirements, we believe it’s time for a national approach—one that does not amount to putting warning labels on safe and wholesome foods. Get a Move On gives farmers and ranchers a way to oppose the multiple, varied state and local initiatives with the click of a mouse.

Members of Congress have told us that they are hearing plenty from the anti-biotech crowd, making it difficult for them to stand with agriculture. They know that GMO opponents are engaging in alarmism and opportunism. Lawmakers say they MUST hear from us. We have to Get a Move On, or else our vocal opponents will drown us out.

Last year, Farm Bureau surprised a lot of people with our Ditch the Rule campaign. In a fight against EPA and vocal environmental activist groups, we helped generate thousands of comments on the Waters of the U.S. proposed rule. Farmers and ranchers showed up, big-time! The Ditch the Rule campaign demonstrated what is achievable when we motivate the grassroots and deploy smart tools to make it easy to take action. We need to build on that success. It’s time to Get a Move On for GMOs! Check out the new website. Let us know what you think. And please keep your eyes peeled for more Get a Move On resources to come.   

Leave a comment