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Gary Hirschberg, CEO of Stonyfield Farm, calls the USDA's January 2011 approval to allow unregulated planting of GE alfalfa "the most horrifying development yet" in the world of GMOs. Alfalfa, more commonly known as hay, wasn't even in need of improvement, he adds—it was relatively easy to grow without being altered in the lab. "Only 7 percent of alfalfa in this country was being grown with herbicide," he notes. But approved it was. Once planted, GE alfalfa is likely to contaminate fields of non-GE and organic alfalfa. Alfalfa is essential to the survival of organic livestock operations, and dairies that rely on organic alfalfa as a staple in their animals' diets.

Since USDA organic certification requires that the food be free of GMO ingredients—and avoiding GMOs is one reason consumers buy organic—expect every organics advocacy group, organic dairy, and organic rancher to petition the Obama administration to withdraw its GE alfalfa approval. And expect consumer rights groups to step up their efforts to push the labeling of GE foods and ingredients. "This is a consumer right-to-know issue," Hirschberg says. "This is about choice—we are being denied choice here."

The debate of GMOs is one of 7 key trends affecting our planet and our health.

Learn more from the Rodale.com news archive:

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Where Are Pesticides Made? Perhaps Inside Your Belly

What you can do: Buy certified organic or GMO-free labeled food products; know the GM ingredients likely to be in foods—and stay away from them!

Genetically Modified DNA Contaminates Ancient Mexican Maize

What you can do: Buy food labeled USDA organic or GMO free; be wary of processed food containing corn and soy ingredients.

Organic IS Healthier…and Here’s Why

What you can do: Buy organics because they’re free of pesticides, counteract global warming, and contain more of some key—but overlooked—nutrients.

10 Monsters that Threaten the Planet

What you can do: Watch what you eat, pour down the sink, or plant in your yard.

Report: Genetically Engineered Food Gets Doused with Extra Chemicals

What you can do: Buy organic to keep biotech crops from polluting your water supply.

Why We All Need an Organic Manifesto

What you can do: Demand organic in every purchase that you make, and tell your elected officials to stop subsidizing food that's making us sick. How's that for a healthcare crisis solution?

Lower Taxes! And 4 Other Surprising Reasons to Save the Earth by Going Organic

What you can do: Go to DemandOrganic.org for answers to your organic questions; buy organic food to improve the health of your family and the planet.

Genetically Engineered Salmon Are Swimming toward Your Plate

What you can do: Call the White House today and demand a halt to the rush-job approval process.

Healthiest Salmon on the Planet Face Unprecedented Threats

What you can do: Tell the FDA to keep GM salmon out of our water; take action to halt mining in Bristol Bay.

How Common is Genetically Altered Food? Go GMO Free and Find Out

What you can do: Look for certified-organic dairy and vegetables, eliminate nonorganic processed foods, and watch out for hidden GMOs.