WASHINGTON, May 27, 2004 -The National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) joined with U.S. and Central American groups Thursday to oppose the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

"CAFTA dismantles a nation's food sovereignty," said Dena Hoff, a Montana farmer and NFFC's Trade Task Force Chair. "Corporate driven industrialized agriculture will force thousands of Central American families off the land, increasing migration to urban areas in Central America and the U.S."

In September 2003, NFFC joined with over 30 organizations in issuing the Principles Statement on CAFTA negotiations. It stated: "Farmer's livelihoods will be left at the whim of large agribusiness interests unless exporting countries of major commodities take the lead in establishing price floors to assure fair commodity prices worldwide and strategic international reserves to ensure food security."

CAFTA also expands intellectual property protections set at the World Trade Organization (WTO), enabling multinational biotech corporations to encourage their government to seek sanctions against CAFTA members whose farmers replanted genetically modified seeds.

"No free trade agreement should eliminate the rights of farmers and citizens to decide their own food and agricultural policies," said NFFC Executive Director Katherine Ozer. "Corporate grain traders and exporters will benefit from this trade agreement, not family farmers or consumers in the U.S. or Central America."