GM wheat imperils agriculture, coalition warns
Subject: GM wheat imperils agriculture, coalition warns...................
Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2001 10:44:25 -0400
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of
California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker,I thought you might like to read an article from the Toronto Star Newspapers, Ltd.: Jul. 31, 06:35 EDT GM wheat imperils agriculture, coalition warns WINNIPEG (CP) - Genetically modified wheat could put farmers out of business and destroy Canada's grain export industry, says a coalition calling on Ottawa to prevent approval of the new strains.
The coalition of farm, health and citizens' groups held a joint news conference Tuesday to outline their objections to wheat that is being genetically engineered to resist herbicide.
Such wheat is currently being grown experimentally in five provinces. Monsanto, a company already known for its herbicide-resistant canola, is expected to seek approval for a herbicide-resistant wheat variety sometime after 2003.
"Overwhelming numbers of Canadian farmers and consumers, as well as customers for Canadian wheat overseas, have said that they do not want GM wheat at this time,'' the coalition stated in a letter to Prime Minister Jean Chretien.
The vast majority of Canadian wheat is exported, and farmers predict those markets could be devastated if importing countries perceive that shipments include even a fraction of genetically modified wheat.
Don Dewar of the Manitoba group Keystone Agricultural Producers warned that if genetically modified wheat varieties are approved, Canadian producers will no longer be able to guarantee the quality of their product.
"Many importing countries have expressed concerns dealing with genetically modified wheat, and there is currently no international agreement stating what levels of GMO admixtures are acceptable in export wheat,'' Dewar noted.
Marc Loiselle of the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate and Fred Tait of the National Farmers Union pointed out that the introduction of genetically modified canola has already wiped out the certified organic canola market, because producers have no way of guaranteeing that their product has not been contaminated.
"The approval of GM wheat would be devastating,'' said Loiselle. "A farmer's ability to grow wheat uncontaminated by a novel trait gene will be virtually impossible.''
Monsanto recently won a court case against Saskatchewan canola farmer Percy Schmeiser, arguing that he illegally grew its patented herbicide-resistant canola. Schmeiser continues to maintain that his crop was contaminated by pollen from neighbouring fields where farmers had paid for the Monsanto seed.
"Once this is into the system, as we found with our canola experience, you really can't segregate it any longer,'' Tait said.
Ivan Ottenbreit of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan also warned about another danger of cross-pollination, saying that a herbicide-resistant wheat could mix with native grasses with the result that herbicide is suddenly useless on weeds such as quack grass.
Greenpeace spokeswoman Holly Penfound also warned about the likelihood that pollen from GM crops could spread to wild plants.
"The market rejection of GM wheat is international and growing,'' Penfound said. "Let me be clear. This is an inadequately tested experiment that has no place contaminating our farms and food. Our government should be calling the shots, not the food biotech companies that are pushing GM wheat into the market.''
Patty Rosher of the Canadian Wheat Board said her agency recognizes the potential benefits that biotech presents to consumers and farmers, but needs to be convinced of product safety and market acceptance before GM wheat is brought into the mainstream.
Canadian wheat exports were valued at $2.9 billion last year, and Stewart Wells of the National Farmers Union called on Chretien to protect that industry.
"If the prime minister was to say he is prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure that Canadian farmers and Canadian consumers wouldn't be harmed by the introduction of genetically modified wheat, that would send a very strong signal.''
Well Mr. Helliker, there is always the danger of contamination and cross-pollination with your "registered" toxins, that will create herbicide-resistant weeds such as quack grass but, that obviously will be great for the producers of "registered" herbicide POISONS - because the farmers will be forced to use/misuse more and more of your "registered" POISONS!The world clearly does not want your "registered" frankenfoods and/or POISONS - but obviously that does not mean to much to "our regulators", politicians and POISON producers.I think that any elected official or government employee that advocates any "registered" POISON or "food" should be held responsible for any subsequent harm that results from their "registration" and/or "approval".If this were really the case, I believe we would see more of the Precautionary Principle, in a hurry!
Respectfully,Stephen L. Tvedten
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