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 August 31, 2000 |
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On Wednesday, August 23, the Boulder Open Space Department voted to ban genetically modified crops on city lands. The ban was urged by the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, which also supports the labeling of genetically engineered foods and a moratorium on planting genetically modified crops unless long-term, independent testing proves for them to be safe. Of particular concern was whether genetically altered crops would promote herbicide resistance in Boulder. Bryan Pritchett, Open Space resource conservation coordinator said, "One of our charges is to protect environmental resources, and there are enough concerns about genetically modified crops to justify taking this action." Environmentalists worry that bioengineered plants could pollinate and change other species. Millions of acres of genetically altered crops have been planted in the United States. "There's whole host of biological and societal questions about this practice," Pritchett said. "Ethically, I'm not sure we want it represented on public land we control. Our take is that until a whole lot more is known about GMO impacts then we'd rather not have them." |
GE Crops Outlawed in Boulder