For related articles and more information, please visit OCA’s Genetic Engineering page, Millions Against Monsanto page and our Politics an Democracy page.

To borrow a phrase from Bill Maher, here’s a New Rule: anytime a GMO advocate gushes about the benefits and safety of genetically engineered products, someone must recite the following statistics from Food & Water Watch:

 Since 1999, the 50 largest agricultural and food patent-holding companies and two of the largest biotechnology and agrochemical trade associations have spent more than $572 million in campaign contributions and lobbying expenditures.  Lobbying expenditures for food and agricultural biotechnology more than doubled between 1999 and 2009, rising 102.8 percent from $35 million in 1999 to $71 million in 2009.  Food and agricultural biotechnology PACs made more than $22 million in campaign contributions since 1999.  Food and agriculture biotechnology firms employ more than 300 former congressional and White House staff members as lobbyists.  In addition to in-house lobbyists, the food and agricultural biotechnology firms employed more than 100 lobbying firms in 2010.

Would you like to know about Monsanto’s lobbying efforts?