Thaindian News

By Ranjan Bhaduri
Sep 13, (THAINDIAN NEWS) The USDA is in trouble after the environmentalists protesting against genetically modified sugar-beets allowed by the agency sued it earlier this week. The lawsuit states that the farms that grow this product pose danger to adjacent organic farms and also cause harm to the environment. As a matter of fact, genetically modified crops are infiltrating the US market since the 1980s. The majority of the crops grown in the US nowadays are genetically altered for higher shelf life and better immunity against pests.

USDA gave clearance to the genetically altered sugar beets and plans are on to grow seed crop. However, the environmentalists are not ok with the plan and they think that the seed crop is capable of cross-pollinating with adjacent beet farms and affect their crops in the process. Genetic alteration of crops is not encouraged in Europe much but in the USA things are somewhat different on this issue. As per the lawsuit filed by the plaintiffs The decision of USDA goes against the August court ruling that put a ban on the planting of genetically altered crops.

The lawsuit asks the court to issue orders for preventing the planting of all genetically altered sugar beet plants. USDA has not issued any formal statement on this subject so far. Monsanto Co., a developer of genetically altered sugar beets which has been cited in the lawsuit as a developer also chose to remain silent on the issue. Most of the sugar produced in the USA are procured from the sugar beet though traditional beets still remain a choice. Now everyone is waiting to see the reaction of the USDA.