Voters overwhelmingly reject GMO ban in Oregon county

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A proposed ban on biotech crops in Oregon’s Benton County has failed by a strong margin.

Nearly 73 percent of voters rejected Measure 2-89, which would have prohibited cultivation of genetically modified organisms.

The proposal was met with alarm by scientists at Oregon State University, which lies in the county, who feared it would stop research projects that rely on genetic engineering.

Its defeat shows that once voters learn the facts, they will reject extreme measures, said Scott Dahlman, policy director of the Oregonians for Food and Shelter agribusiness group, which opposed the initative.

“I think it’s a resounding statement that folks in Benton County support all types of agriculture,” he said.

Dana Allen, a chief petitioner for the ballot initiative, said OSU’s statements were likely the reason that people voted against Measure 2-89.

However, Allen said that the prohibition was focused solely on the county’s food system and wouldn’t be as far-reaching as the university claimed.

“It wouldn’t shut down any research at OSU at all. All it would shut down is the open planting of GMOs that would contaminate our local food system,” she said.

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: GMO ban fails in Oregon’s Benton County

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