County GMO Ordinances/Resolutions. John Harper UCCE Livestock & Natural Resources Advisor Mendocino & Lake Counties

Transcription

1 County GMO Ordinances/Resolutions John Harper UCCE Livestock & Natural Resources Advisor Mendocino & Lake Counties 1

2 Overview History & background Case study methods and results Current status of Measure H enforcement Proposed resolution banning Round-up Ready alfalfa Lake County Q&A 2

3 How it started History & Background Local organic brew pub owner initiates proposed ordinance (Measure H) November 4, 2003 BOS request input November 19, 2003 UCCE & County Departments issue GMO Initiative Report Measure H placed on March 2004 ballot UCCE biotechnology workgroup responds Legal guidelines for UC 4 articles written for local newspapers Resource of information to various groups BOS, Ag. Commissioner, Farm Bureau, Mendocino County Employers Council and commodity groups as well as supporters of the ordinance 3

4 Measure H Unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to propagate, cultivate, raise, or grow genetically modified organisms exempted medically related GMOs Ban did not pertain to properties within city limits, or lands managed by state, Tribal and Federal agencies County s s Agricultural Commissioner designated as enforcing agency Passes with 56.3% of the vote 4

5 Case Study Methods & Results Election related material collected From November 2003 to March 2, 2004 Passive collection of materials mailed to voters Newspaper articles, paid advertisements and letters to the editor (UDJ & PD) Categorized materials Delivery method Thematic subjects Pro vs. Con 5

6 Results Fig. 1. Delivery method of 206 sampled materials received by the voters of Mendocino County regarding Measure H. November 2003 through March 2, % 8% 4% 2% 11% 55% paid ads letters to the editor news articles op-eds mailings PSAs 6

7 # of times expressed Fig. 2. Characterization of Distributed Paid Advertisements for Measure H. Mendocino Co., Calif. November March PRO CON certification marketing human safety privacy protectionism corporate stance enviro safety econ vitality semantics 7

8 Fig. 3. Content, by theme, of 38 newspaper editorials addressing Measure H. November March 2, # of times expressed certification marketing human safety privacy protectionism corporate stance enviro safety econ vitality semantics Pro Con 8

9 Figure 4. Percentage of sampled letters submitted to the Editors of the Ukiah Daily Journal and the Santa Rosa Press Democrat addressing issues of concern prior to the March 2004 vote certification marketing enviro safety econ vitality pro-corp anti-corp human safety privacy protectionism semantics 9

10 Figure 5. Number of times issues of concerns were raised in letters to editor of the UDJ and the PD prior to the March 2, 2004 vote 50 # of times expressed certification marketing enviro safety econ vitality corporate stance human safety privacy protectionism semantics Pro Con 10

11 Current Status of Measure H Enforcement No GMO crops were know to exist before the passage of Measure H No crops have been found No complaints have been made No enforcement has been necessary 11

12 Proposed Resolution Banning Round-up Ready Alfalfa Lake County Two public meetings held UCCE & Ag. Commissioners provided input at 2 nd of these meetings Concerns about genetic drift, local control BOS to vote without public input on October 11,

13 Questions? 13