Will Pesticide Industry Have a Permanent Seat at the Table?

Not if we have anything to say about it

This page was published 14 years ago. Find the latest on Earthjustice’s work.

Today Earthjustice lined up alongside family farmers, consumers, farmworkers, fishermen, anti-hunger groups and a host of others in opposing the administration’s selection of a pesticide industry insider to serve as our country’s chief agricultural trade negotiator.

Deciding to oppose a nominee is not a decision we take lightly. But in this case it was the right thing to do.

When it comes to pesticides and GMOs, Islam Siddiqui has been on the wrong side of the issues too many times. His current gig—as vice president for science and regulatory affairs at CropLife America—speaks volumes. CropLife America is the agribusiness trade association whose members include Monsanto, Syngenta, DuPont and Dow. It’s also shorthand for how far we’ve strayed from sustainable agriculture practices. Putting Siddiqui at the helm certainly won’t get us back on course.

From 2007–2018, Kathleen partnered with clean energy coalitions and grassroots organizations, empowered communities to fight against fracking, and worked with the Policy & Legislation team to have their messages heard by legislators.