Oregon Voters Rightly Reject Efforts to Require Mandatory Labeling of GMO Food

Washington, D.C. (November 5, 2014) – With some ballots still left to be counted, it appears that Oregon voters have chosen to reject Measure 92, the state’s GMO food labeling initiative. 

Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), issued the following statement in response:

“Just like the tens of millions of voters in California in 2012 and Washington State in 2013, Oregon voters see how this proposal would have created more state bureaucracy, imposed new costs and burdens on local farmers and businesses, and increased food prices for hard-working Oregon families. 

“While the biotech industry is committed to providing information about how our food is grown, that information needs to be conveyed in an accurate and fact-based way to consumers.  Voters decided that Measure 92 fails in this regard.

“Modern farming and agricultural biotechnology has enabled farmers to grow more food on less land with fewer pesticide applications, less water and reduced on-farm fuel use.  We are proud of these successes and the role biotechnology plays in helping to feed the world. 

“We will continue to explore policies that represent a national solution and provide consumers with information about the foods we eat.  In the meantime, non-GMO choices exist in the marketplace, and online resources, such as the GMO Answers website, can answer questions about technology and food production.”