http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/t/5915/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=1920

"A new bill before the U.S. Senate stands to completely overhaul the way the U.S. offers agricultural development and food aid to the developing world. This bill, the Lugar-Casey Global Food Security Act, aims to reform aid programs to include a stronger focus on long-term agricultural development and the restructuring of aid agencies to better respond to crises. While this renewed focus is commendable, the Lugar-Casey bill also mandates funding for genetically modified crop research as a major underpinning of its food security strategy. Just as food aid expands markets for U.S. grain even as it destroys markets and farm livelihoods abroad, the agricultural development aid in the Lugar-Casey Global Food Security Act will open markets in Africa and elsewhere to the U.S. biotechnology industry. This is likely to result in a windfall for northern seed and chemical companies, but will increase risk and dependency among small farmers across the developing world."

An effort to fight global poverty and hunger may become a Trojan horse to force genetically engineered crops on countries and farmers that do not want them.  Recently, Senators Bob Casey (D-Penn.) and Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) introduced the Global Food Security Act, which increases desperately needed funding for agricultural research in the developing world.  Unfortunately, the bill also requires investment in genetically engineered crops favored by a handful of companies like Monsanto.

Here is an article on the effects of GMO in third world countries.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1082559/The-GM-genocide-Thousands-Indian-farmers-committing-suicide-using-genetically-modified-crops.html

Farmers and governments in the developing world have the right to make their own choices about genetically engineered crops.  Food aid and development assistance should never be pre-conditioned on accepting unwanted and ineffective genetically engineered crops.

Can you sign our petition to ask members of Congress to keep genetic engineering out of any food aid and agricultural research legislation?

http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/t/5915/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=1920