Michigan could become the 15th state to take away a local government's authority to decide the type of seeds grown on its farms.
The bill, introduced in September 2005, removes a local government's ability to decide whether farmers can grow genetically modified or organic seeds.
The Michigan Senate approved the legislation 26-10 late last week.
Genetically modified seeds are technologically manipulated to become resistant to herbicides or add nutrients to a particular food.
Ann Arbor Sen. Liz Brater is worried the public's health is in jeopardy by using genetically modified seeds.
"There are still too many unanswered questions about the safety of genetically engineered seeds and what the long-term impacts of these seeds are on human, animal and plant health," Brater said on the Senate floor last Thursday.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not require premarket safety testing or labeling for genetically engineered foods, Brater said.
Most people already eat foods that contain genetically modified ingredients, said Jeff Cobb, legislative aide for Sen. Jerry Van Woerkom, R-Norton Shores, who proposed the bill.
Genetically modified crops have been on the market since 1995.
"We didn't think local government should be passing additional regulations based on their particular preferences," Cobb said. "The federal government is better equipped to deal with the science behind genetically modified organisms.
"Nobody knows for sure what is going to happen in 50 years from now with these crops — but it makes no sense to make speculation about these types of seeds."
Organic farmers said the law could cause long-term problems.
"The companies that support genetically modified organisms … kind of dominate the market and kinda push out the small farmer," said Jay Tomczak, the MSU Student Organic Farm assistant manager.
"(They) make it more difficult to make a living because it has negative implications for organic farmers because of the pollen drift."
Corn and soybeans are two of Michigan's genetically modified crops.
Corn, a wind-pollinated crop, can deposit genetically modified pollen into adjacent fields, possibly affecting a farmer's organic certification.
"It's been proven they can't contain the genetic material," Tomzcak said.
Organic crops are certified through standards determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Organic farms are prohibited from using synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms.
Buffer zones and crop rotations are two techniques organic farmers practice to avoid pollen drift contamination, said Pat Whetham, the certification director for Organic Growers of Michigan.
"There has been no time when genetically modified crop growers were liable for pollen drift onto other farms," Whetham said. "We're still going to be responsible even though we have no control over the pollen that may flow to the property or water."
