MOFGA's Public Policy and Consumer Awareness Program

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MOFGA's work on Integrated Pest Management in Public Buildings MOFGA Certification Services, LLC Policy on Cross-contamination of Certified Crops MOFGA's Updated Sewage Sludge Policy MOFGA's Policy on Trade Liberalization or "Free Trade" in Agriculture MOFGA's Policy on Genetically Modified Organisms in Agriculture

Since its inception in 1971, MOFGA has actively educated both government leaders and the general public concerning the benefits of organic methods, and the numerous health and environmental risks of chemically dependent, conventional agriculture. In addition to hosting a variety of educational events in Unity and throughout the state, staff and board members appear frequently in public forums, conferences, and in the media. They also participate in coalitions and advisory committees advocating aggressive reductions of toxics and pesticides. Through its renowned newspaper, The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener (MOF&G), MOFGA is the only organization to regularly report on the proceedings of the Maine Board of Pesticides Control. The MOF&G also informs both consumers and growers about a variety of important legislative and regulatory issues on a quarterly basis.

MOFGA vigorously promotes creative approaches to pesticide reduction. In the past year its efforts led to an EPA-funded survey of pesticide use in all Maine schools, and to a pilot program to promote the use of integrated pest management plans for each of these schools. In 1990, MOFGA earned the first National Environmental Achievement Award for Food Safety by successfully proposing the first state "country of origin labeling" legislation for produce. In 1997, the organization drafted and advocated for "An Act to Reduce Reliance on Pesticides." This act would have instituted an effective system of pesticide sales data collection, while mandating a 33% reduction of pesticide use in the state by 2002. Although the legislation that passed was far weaker than MOFGA's proposal, it did, for the first time, declare a state policy requiring all branches of government to minimize pesticide reliance, and called for a state system of pesticide sales reporting.

For many years, MOFGA has strongly advocated a cautious, in-depth analysis of the potential environmental and health risks associated with genetic engineering. In 1993, MOFGA proposed the first state legislation to label genetically engineered (GE) foods. As a result of the debate over that proposal, the governor appointed a Maine Commission to Study Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, with a MOFGA representative serving on the Commission. In 1996, the Commission produced a consensus report that found a need for more effective federal regulation in three areas, including a call for federal labeling of GE foods. MOFGA has advocated for two subsequent labeling bills, the most recent of which was approved by the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture. In 1998, MOFGA successfully opposed registration by the Maine Board of Pesticides Control of GE corn that incorporates the pesticide Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), leading Maine to be the only state in the nation to prohibit that crop. In 1999, MOFGA joined Greenpeace in bringing suit against the U.S. EPA. This suit called for a total ban on GE plants incorporating the Bt genes until an environmental impact statement is prepared.

Exceptionally concerned over the lack of objective information available to consumers and growers about genetic engineering, pesticides and irradiation MOFGA published 50,000 mini-editions of its newspaper on these issues in the summer of 2001, distributed free to consumers and growers throughout Maine and beyond. MOFGA also received a special grant from the Threshold Foundation to produce a puppet play about genetically engineered foods. Prepared by high school students, this fun and informative show was being performed at fairs and festivals throughout the state in 2001. MOFGA is certain that all of these efforts will provide consumers and growers with much "food for thought" about the human health and environmental issues surrounding this new technology.