Concerns raised over unregulated spread of GM crops

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 Subject:  Concerns raised over unregulated spread of GM crops..........................
 Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2002 17:11:41 -0500
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 the following article: Concerns raised over unregulated spread of GM crops 

Last Updated Sat Sep 1 14:08:05 2001   - http://cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/view.cgi?category=Canada&story=/news/2001/08/31/canola010831

HOMEFIELD, MANITOBA - Manitoba canola farmers say they could use a little rain, and a lot less wind.

Last week near Homefield, canola that was raining down after a tornado cut through Vic Martens' fields. "The tornado actually picked up the canola plants and actually wrapped them around these trees," he said.

The canola crop was genetically modified. The seeds from the crop were blown into other canola fields up to eight kilometres away raising concerns among those that worry about the uncontrolled spread of genetically modified seeds.

Brian Ellis, a professor of plant biotechnology, says genetic modification of plants, combined with extreme weather deserves to be studied.

"This is something the regulators never even thought of. It just goes to show that you can't control something once you get it out into real nature," said Ellis.

Ellis worries the same will happen with strains of GM wheat currently being tested in secret locations. The Canadian Wheat Board has already said it won't sell GM contaminated wheat because of health concerns in foreign markets.

GM canola hasn't met the same opposition, but it's patented seeds pose legal problems for farmers.

Percy Schmeiser was sued by Monsanto when GM canola showed up in his field near Saskatoon. He has long argued there is no way to control where GM seeds go. "One of my neighbours had a twister. It picked up seed in his field and my field and took it for four miles."

Monsanto also holds the patent on the tornado canola. It says anyone withunwanted or unlicensed canola can ask to have it pulled out in the spring, if it doesn't die this winter.

Written by CBC News Online staff

Well Mr. Helliker,  It certainly appears your frankenfoods are here to stay, whether we want them or not.  Monsanto can make a fortune suing those unfortunate farmers they have contaminated.  You will effective note the only way to remove this "registered" weed, is by pulling it out.

Respectfully,  Stephen L. Tvedten

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