NEWS FROM THE AMERICAN CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION For Immediate Release Contact: Gary Goldberg, 918-488-1892 or David Senter, 202-331-4348 E-Mail: acga@acga.org U.S. FARMERS LOSING DOMESTIC MARKETS WHILE JAPAN SETS NEW RESTRICTIONS FOR GMO CORN IMPORTS Actions of Proctor & Gamble, McDonalds and Frito-Lay Closing Door to Genetically Modified Commodities TULSA, OK.April 30, 2000---American farmers who expected domestic markets for their genetically modified (GMO) crops found another door closing in their faces with the announcement that major U.S. food outlets and processors are rejecting GMO potatoes. This action adds to recent announcements by Frito-Lay that they would not accept GMO corn from their contract growers. "Markets for our farmers, both foreign and domestic, are falling by the wayside," said Gary Goldberg, Chief Executive Officer of the American Corn Growers Association (ACGA). "It is quickly becoming impossible to guarantee the marketability of genetically modified food products and this is effecting farmer's bottom line." As European markets disappeared because of their insistence that the U.S. only sell non-GMOs, American farmers were told by the biotechnology industry and their agricultural supporters that domestic markets would remain open to their products. The decision by McDonalds not to use GMO potatoes for their french fries and Procter and Gamble not to use GMO potatoes for their Pringle brand potato chips sends just the opposite signal. If this news wasn't bad enough for GMO advocates, two recent announcements coming out of Japan do not bode well for the future of GMO exports. Japan stated that mandatory safety testing would be required of all genetically modified crops coming into the country. In addition, they announced that non-GMO wheat is replacing GMO corn and soybeans in their food products. This is because there is very little commercialization of GMO wheat and because it is increasing difficult for Japan to find non-GMO corn and soybeans coming out of the United States. Japan is the single largest market for American corn producers, purchasing 15.891 million tons in 1999. "U.S. farmers cannot afford to lose valuable markets for our commodities. The loss of the European market, the burdensome requirements to maintain the Japanese market and the growing number of domestic companies that are demanding non-GMOs are adding pressure on American farmers to turn their backs on genetically modified seeds. Add the concerns of on-farm segregation, testing and certification, and the uncertainty over cross-pollination, liability and labeling and it is no wonder that over 75% of all corn acres will be planted to conventional, non-GMO corn seeds this coming year," added Goldberg. The ACGA has been using its Farmer Choice-Customer First Program to provide unbiased, honest and objective information about GMOs. This enables farmers to make educated decisions about what crops would work the best for their individual farming operations. "Farmers are facing the facts that genetically modified crops are finding increasing resistance in our foreign and domestic markets. With commodity prices remaining historically low and greater pressures being put on exports, the continued planting of GMOs is jeopardizing the financial well being of U.S. farmers. These are the real reasons that so many agricultural producers have made the conscious decision to reject GMOs this year and will be closely watching market developments to determine what to do in future years," concluded Goldberg.