Connecticut is the first state in the nation to require the labeling of genetically modified organism known as GMOs.

Joined by lawmakers and advocates, Governor Dannel Malloy put pen to paper to enact legislation that requires that certain foods intended for human consumption that are entirely or partially genetically engineered to be labeled as such.

“I am proud that leaders from each of the legislative caucuses can come together to make our state the first in the nation to require the labeling of GMOs,” said Governor Malloy. “The end result is a law that shows our commitment to consumers' right to know while catalyzing other states to take similar action.”

For a view on what's cooking at the national level, see this link to Food Policy Action, a fair and balanced reporting on legislators votes that have an effect on food and farming.

Currently, 64 countries around the world require labeling of genetically engineered foods – but not the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration currently requires labeling of genetically engineered foods if the food has a “significantly different nutritional property; if a new food includes an allergen that consumers would not expect to be present (e.g., a peanut protein in a soybean product); or if a food contains a toxicant beyond acceptable limits.”

There's a caveat before it goes into effect though: A combination of four other northeastern states with a combined population of at least 20 million must adopt similar laws – Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

In related news, the Governor and officials toured the Connecticut Hydroponic Farm in East Hartford, which received a Production Loss Assistance Needed Today (PLANT) grant of more than $79,000 to help recover from damage incurred as a result of February's severe snowstorm.

The PLANT grant program was created to provide emergency assistance to the state's farms that suffered unrecoverable losses in production and property damage in 2013 due to severe weather events.

“Our agricultural sector is a significant driver of our state and local economies, and I want our state?s farmers to know that I support them and am committed to seeing their small businesses succeed and thrive. I am happy to see our PLANT grant program is doing exactly what it was intended to do – help get farms like this one back on their feet and into production again as soon as possible,” said Governor Malloy. “Because of a PLANT grant, Connecticut Hydroponic Farm was able to quickly recover from this year's earlier storm that damaged buildings and equipment and is already back in business supplying fresh, Connecticut Grown lettuce to local restaurants and wholesalers.”

Minutes of The Governor’s Council for Ag Development in November:

Commissioner Reviczky, chairman, called the meeting to order at 1:21 p.m. Other council members in attendance were James Guida, George Hindinger, Jason Hoagland, Jamie Jones, Michael Keilty, Kevin Sullivan, Jr., and Henry Talmage. Staff from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture also was present. Council members Allyn Brown, III, Herb Holden, Jr., Shelly Oechsler, Peter Orr, and Dr. Gregory Weidemann were absent.

The council reviewed draft minutes from Oct. 22, 2013. George Hindinger moved to approve them. Kevin Sullivan seconded. The council accepted the motion with all in favor except Henry Talmage, who abstained.

Commissioner Reviczky reviewed the decision by members at the last meeting to narrow the council’s focus for the coming year to three or four priority topic areas and dive into those more deeply. He distributed and reviewed a draft timeline for 2014, pointing out that working groups corresponding to the priority topic areas would begin meeting in January.

He also reported that his office had sent a final draft of the council’s 2013 year-end update to the communications staff at the University of Connecticut’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources on Oct. 31, 2013. They estimate completion of a draft layout on or before November 27, 2013. The Department of Agriculture has made arrangements to print the reports through the Department of Administrative Services’ print shop again this year, which will take about two weeks from receipt of the final layout from the University of Connecticut.

The council engaged in an in-depth discussion about priorities for 2014 and came to consensus that its four areas of focus for the year ahead will be:

1. Food safety requirements (especially the Food Safety Modernization Act)

2. Innovation, research, and producer education

3. Infrastructure and wholesale markets

4. Marketing

Corresponding working groups will begin meeting in January. The council concurred it should take advantage of different producer group meetings that month to solicit stakeholder input on these topics and then have a day at the end of January to engage experts in these areas in more in-depth discussions. Council leadership will work out the details.

The council’s next quarterly meeting will be held Feb. 4, 2014. Working groups will begin meeting in January. There was no further business and Chairman Reviczky adjourned meeting at 3:13 p.m. (Note this is a draft report minutes of the meeting; revision updates will be noted.)

The Governor’s Council for Ag Development members and their affiliation and area of concern: Allyn L. Brown, Maple Lane Farms, LLC and Connecticut Currant LLC, Preston, appointed by Governor Malloy, representing agricultural production. Winter Caplanson, Coventry Regional Farmers’ Market, appointed by Senate President Pro Tempore Donald Williams, Jr., agricultural marketing. James Guida, Guida’s Milk, Kensington, appointed by Speaker of the House Chris Donovan, agricultural processing. George Hindinger, Hindinger Farm, Hamden, appointed by Governor Malloy, on agricultural production. Jason Hoagland, Connecticut Agricultural Education Foundation, Windsor, appointed by Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, for agricultural education. Herb Holden Jr., Double H Acres, Broad Brook, appointed by Governor Malloy, agricultural production. Jamie Jones, Jones Family Farms, Shelton, appointed by Governor Malloy, agricultural production. Michael Keilty, Maple Spring Farms, Morris, appointed by Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, to represent an agricultural trade association. Shelly Oechsler, Botticello Farms, Manchester, appointed by Governor Malloy, agricultural production. Peter Orr, Fort Hill Farms, Thompson, appointed by Governor Malloy, representing agricultural production. (Fills vacancy left by Erica Andrews, Hurricane Farm, who resigned 9/19/12.) Kevin Sullivan Jr., Chestnut Hill Nursery, Stafford, appointed by House Minority Leader Larry Cafero, representing the “green industry.” Greg Veneziano, Bozzuto’s Inc., Cheshire, appointed by House Majority Leader J. Brendan Sharkey, representing agricultural sales. Vice chairmen Henry Talmage, Connecticut Farm Bureau Association and Gregory Weidemann, Ph.D., University of Connecticut College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Chairman Steven Reviczky, CT Department of Agriculture.