monsanto wants to bring GMO wheat to the great white north

[Guest guest]

Monsanto officially asks to grow GM wheat

Last Updated Wed, 08 Jan 2003 18:15:03

REGINA - Agriculture giant Monsanto has officially asked Ottawa to allow it to

market genetically modified wheat. If approved, consumers could one day be

eating genetically modified wheat in their daily bread.

 

 

INDEPTH: Food Fight

 

Monsanto says it could be years before the genetically engineered wheat is

harvested in Canadian fields, but opposition to the company's application is

growing.

 

 

Stuart Wells farms organic food in southwestern Saskatchewan. He has a lot to

lose: if pollen from a pesticide-resistant wheat grown in a nearby field blows

into his field, he could loose his organic certification.

 

So, the very idea of allowing Canadian farmers to grow genetically modified

wheat scares him. " It will bring the organic industry in Canada to its knees, "

he says.

 

Wells is not alone.

 

Environmentalists says there's no reason to approve genetically modified wheat

in Canada. Holly Penfound of Greenpeace says 'GE' or genetically engineered

wheat poses a threat.

 

" We feel this application spells danger because there are health risks

associated with GE wheat, there would be environmental risk, " she said.

 

Monsanto's spokesperson, Trish Jordan, disagrees. " We feel, based on our

conversations with farmers and customers, that there are benefits, and the whole

goal is to maintain choice for buyers. "

 

Jordan says Monsanto won't sell any genetically modified wheat if it looks like

farmers don't want it.

 

But if Greenpeace gets its way, farmers won't get a choice. It is demanding that

Ottawa ban genetically modified wheat in Canada.

 

 

 

Nip it in the bud – No GE Wheat for Canada

 

Greenpeace Canada, Toronto, 7 Jan 03

 

Multi-national biotechnology company Monsanto has applied for approval to

release its genetically engineered (GE) wheat in Canada, Greenpeace learned

today. If approved, this world-first could severely damage Canada’s global wheat

market. Greenpeace is demanding that Lyle Vanclief (Canada’s Federal Minister of

Agriculture) place an immediate ban on GE wheat in Canada.

 

 

“This application spells danger,” said Holly Penfound, who coordinates

Greenpeace’s work on GE in Canada. “It puts the health of Canadians, as well as

the environment and the economy, at serious risk.” Penfound pointed to

inadequacies in the Canadian approval system which cannot ensure safety on all

these points, and called on Minister Vanclief to reject GE Wheat for Canada.

 

 

“Minister Vanclief must act now to protect farmers and all Canadians from the

threat of GE Wheat,” Penfound said. “Farm groups and consumers in Canada don’t

want it, and neither do our domestic and overseas markets. It’s only Monsanto

who will benefit from GE wheat, and the rest of us will pay the price. Minister

Vanclief must nip this in the bud,” Penfound concluded.

 

 

Citing a range of environmental and economic issues, agricultural groups,

including the National Farmers Union, the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate and

the Canadian Wheat Board, have stated their concerns about the introduction of

GE wheat to Canada. Over two thirds of Canada’s wheat markets will not buy GE

wheat. Additionally, fearing cross contamination, many overseas purchasers of

Canadian wheat insist they will not buy any Canadian wheat if GE varieties are

grown here.

 

 

On December 23, Monsanto’s application for environmental release of its

gene-altered wheat was made to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Health

Canada and Monsanto have refused to confirm whether application for food safety

approval has been made.

 

 

The wheat variety under consideration is altered to withstand application of the

Monsanto herbicide Round-up, meaning wheat fields will be exposed to massive

doses of pesticide. “The increased use of pesticide alone is great cause for

concern,” Penfound said. “But when added to environmental, human health and

economic risks associated with GE wheat, there is simply no reason to entertain

the idea of its introduction to Canada.”

 

 

GE wheat is not currently approved in any country. Monsanto began the process

for application for approval in the U.S. just days before the Canadian

application was made.