Originally published on MyChamplainValley.com By Torrance Gaucher
Regeneration Vermont, a fairly new non-profit based out of East Thetford, Vermont is working hard to keep the food supply safe in the Green Mountain State.
The organizations main goal is to educate farmers and state officials on the harmful impacts of using GMO seeds.
Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture collects data yearly on the usage of GMOs, and from 2002-2012 GMO usage has grown from 8% to 103%.
With the expansive growth of GMOs, toxic pesticides use has risen 39%, and the use of climate-threatening nitrogen fertilizers has risen 17% per year.
Co-Founder of Regeneration Vermont Will Allen states that during the ten year time frame the water quality of our rivers and lakes have skyrocketed and farmer income has dropped.
“We know what is used on the crops. But we don’t know what is in the milk. This is an important health issue, labor issue, farmer issue, and environmental issue,” Allen said.
In Vermont 90% of corn feed is genetically modified, that accounts for some nearly 92,000 acres.
Regeneration Vermont has reached out to Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, and Cabot Cheese about moving their operation to a fully organic system.
Watch the coverage here.
