GMO Heats Up

Genetically Modified Organisms or GMO is a topic that is rapidly heating up now that several counties and states are passing laws banning the use of genetically modified crops. Proponents of the technology are scrambling to make sure consumers understand the truth about GMO's. The GMO Answers initiative focuses on open, transparent communication with consumers, which Cathleen Enright, executive vice president of food and agriculture at the Biotechnology Industry Organization, says is very important.

ENRIGHT: We just hadn't done a good job communicating about what we do. For example, things as simple as how GMOs are developed and tested, why farmers choose them or not, and what the safety data says. And as a result, we were really forfeiting public opinion about GMOs.

GMO Answers is multi-pronged, but Enright says it is website-based.

ENRIGHT: The hallmark of the initiative is a public Q&A about GMOs, where third-party independent experts as well as biotechnology company employees answer consumers' questions publicly.

Consumers are invited to visit the website and ask any question, and Enright says many have. Since GMO Answers was launched last year, more than 700 questions have been asked.

That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.