The Green Party and Agriculture

[irishbobcat]

The Green Party of Ohio endorses, supports and seeks to implement an Agriculture Policy in the State of Ohio that follows basic Green principles that will insure a healthy food supply in Ohio:
A. Factory farms ("industrial farming") threatens to further erode the family farms and the general quality of life in our rural areas. Family farms are the basis of community-based economics and essential to rural development and a healthy, diverse economy.
B. The Green Party stands in opposition to a genetically engineered foods future as delivered by unaccountable transnational corporations. Ralph Nader has called for consumer revolts. The time has come! We are united in our opposition to foods that are presented unlabeled when genetically changed. U.S. biotech firms needs to be shown for what they do, food production for profit, not health.
C. Genetically modified "Terminator" seeds that are more about "intellectual property rights" and corporate profit than they are about sustainable agricultural practices, Third-world economic independence, and health, should be banned. Labeling should fully disclose where genetically engineered (and/or irradiated) food is being supplied. Consumer choice needs to be based on full and complete disclosure. Whether it is Bt corn, genetically modified maize, or GM oilseed that finds its way into a menu of other products, the consumer needs to know and choose.
In addition to these general policy directions, we promote for Ohio:

We support the development of incentives for the conversion to organic farming methods and increased enforcement of the State's existing organic certification program and direct Ohio's extension services to enhance their support for organic food production methods.

Programs to encourage development of a processing industry that is based in Ohio and supports Ohio's small farmers. That lack of local processing plants limits the markets to which farmers can sell their produce and is inconsistent with a bioregional approach to agriculture.

Encourage homeowners to produce their own food through organic practices.

Support community gardens in local communities.

Develop and implement legislation that will make growers and patent holders of genetically modified organisms liable for cross contamination with other farmers' crops. Penalties should be severe enough to discourage this from happening.

Provide support for direct marketing efforts of Ohio's farmers to Ohio's consumers.

Target government food procurement (such as school lunch money or university cafeteria purchases) towards small, local farms. Make the preservation of Ohio family farms a priority especially among low income farmers.

Develop a system for US DA food stamps to be used at Ohio farmer's markets easily, just as WIC (Women, Infants and Children) vouchers are used currently.

Restore large farms' oversight to the Ohio EPA, reversing the law that transferred this authority to the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Protect productive farmland from sprawl.