The Safe Seed Pledge

 

"Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend. We must protect this foundation as a safe and genetically stable source for future generations. For the benefit of all farmers, gardeners and consumers who want an alternative, we pledge that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants.

The mechanical transfer of genetic material outside of natural reproductive methods and between genera, families or kingdoms, poses great biological risks as well as economic, political, and cultural threats. We feel that genetically engineered varieties have been insufficiently tested prior to public release. More research and testing is necessary to further assess the potential risks of genetically engineered seeds. Further, we wish to support agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically diverse agricultural ecosystems and ultimately people and communities."

There are three governing agencies to enforce the adherence to this pledge, the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the United States Department of Agriculture.

However, these agencies don’t yet require labeling to identify which seeds have been genetically engineered (GE). Therefore, looking for those companies who have taken the above pledge is your best bet that you are not getting GE seeds.

The safe seed pledge is sponsored and circulated by:

The Council for Responsible Genetics which was founded in 1983, and is comprised of scientists, lawyers, public health advocates and citizens concerned about the social, ethical and environmental impact of new genetic technologies.