By K. Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, Mo. – Some local environmental activists are planning to protest the upcoming World Agricultural Forum that begins Sunday in St. Louis.
Members of the Gateway Green Alliance say companies such as Monsanto are forcing farmers to accept seeds of genetically modified crops.
Alliance spokesman Don Fitz says such foods are unsafe and have not been adequately tested.
"Genetic engineering is one of those many substances like lead, thalidomide, radium, that people have been told is perfectly safe, when there's simply not research there to back it up," Fitz said. "The research that I know of shows that we should be seriously concerns about potential dangers from genetically engineered food."
The group will hold its own conference in St. Louis beginning Friday to highlight what it sees as issues of environmental justice.