I take offense to the one-sided and unsubstantiated column written by Rich Lowry, “The miracle of American agriculture” (Jan. 13).

Lowry states that the European’s refusal to import unlabeled food from the United States is paranoia about technology. There have been no long-term studies on the human and environmental impacts of genetically modifying 60 percent of our soy and corn produced in the U.S. Why would Japan or Europe want our food when our government refused to label the fact that its DNA has been changed?

Lowry states that agriculture in the U.S. is safer and more productive than ever. Sources from Susan Steingraber’s “Living Downstream” beg to differ, stating that our pesticide, herbicide, fungicide and other chemical application on our food is at an all time high.

Between 1950 and 1991, the incidence of all types of cancer in the U.S. rose by 49.3 percent. At mid-century, a cancer diagnosis was the expected fate of about 25 percent of U.S. citizens. Today, about 38.3 percent of women and 48.2 percent of men will contract the disease. Cancer is now the second leading cause of death.

Lowry mocks the possibility of finding more sustainable and chem-free ways of raising fruits, vegetables and animals for consumption. Western medicine does not claim to have a cause for the cancer epidemic in our country. Perhaps we should connect the dots and begin to do what makes common sense and support local, organic farming.

Jennifer Deraspe, Hallowell

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