here comes GMO wheat

[Guest guest]

Dear News Update Subscribers,

 

As we reported in our last News Update, the wheat industry is having

their annual meeting this week. The news coming out of the wheat

industry conference is not good for supporters of organic agriculture.

 

It had previously appeared that the wheat industry was fairly united in

opposing the introduction of genetically engineered wheat. Now that

opposition seems to be eroding rapidly as the article posted below

titled " U.S. farmers to help win GM wheat acceptance " will explain.

 

If the U.S. government approves genetically engineered wheat and the

wheat industry supports its introduction, there will soon be millions of

acres of genetically engineered wheat planted in the United States. And

if genetically engineered wheat gets approved, genetically engineered

rice will likely be next.

 

Although wheat and rice pollen does not travel as far as corn pollen,

the potential for contamination of organic wheat and rice from the

genetically engineered varieties is practically inevitable if millions

of acres get planted. And make no mistake about it, there will be

millions of acres of genetically engineered wheat and rice planted in

the United States in this decade unless supporters of organic

agriculture are successful in opposing it.

 

When Jeremy Rifkin spoke about the threat of genetically engineered

crops at the Natural Products Expo East meeting in Washington, DC last

October, he stated, " This is a life and death issue for your industry. "

He went on to say that if we don't stop it in the next five years, it

will likely be to late to save organic agriculture.

 

The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods hopes the organic and

natural food industries are paying close attention to what is developing

in the battle to bring genetically engineered wheat to market.

 

As the article posted below states, " While two years ago, the wheat

farmers viewed Monsanto's GM wheat proposal with some suspicion and fear

of losing markets, this week's annual gathering found firm support for

Monsanto and eagerness to obtain the potential benefits the technology

might offer. "

 

For further information on the threat genetically engineered crops pose

to organic agriculture, you may want to read the book " Saving Organic

Rice " by Alex Jack. It features a forward by Michael Potter, President

of Eden Foods, and is available through The Campaign's online store at:

http://www.thecampaign.org/store.php

 

Craig Winters

Executive Director

The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods

 

The Campaign

PO Box 55699

Seattle, WA 98155

Tel: 425-771-4049

Fax: 603-825-5841

E-mail: label

Web Site: http://www.thecampaign.org

 

Mission Statement: " To create a national grassroots consumer campaign

for the purpose of lobbying Congress and the President to pass

legislation that will require the labeling of genetically engineered

foods in the United States. "

 

***************************************************************

 

U.S. farmers to help win GM wheat acceptance

 

By Carey Gillam

 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Jan 29 (Reuters) - U.S. wheat farmers were moving to

help Monsanto Co. overcome customer apprehension to the world's first

genetically modified wheat, which is moving closer to regulatory

approval both in the U.S. and abroad.

 

" Consumers trust farmers, " said Monsanto wheat industry affairs

spokesman Michael Doane. " We've been investing in this technology... now

for probably a decade. We're entering a new part of the project and need

industry help to educate decision makers. "

 

After spending more than a decade - and tens of millions of dollars - in

development of a genetically modified wheat that allows farmers to more

efficiently control weeds, Monsanto has hit a critical juncture, said

Doane, who was spending this week at a meeting of key wheat industry

players in Albuquerque.

 

Doane said the company needs farmer groups to step up global educational

efforts to overcome the fears of millers and bakers and food companies

who have seen the food industry rocked by controversy over genetically

modified crops.

 

And the farmers are on board. While two years ago, the wheat farmers

viewed Monsanto's GM wheat proposal with some suspicion and fear of

losing markets, this week's annual gathering found firm support for

Monsanto and eagerness to obtain the potential benefits the technology

might offer.

 

" Rather than sitting on the sidelines hoping that it wins acceptance...

we're trying to help out, " said National Association of Wheat Growers

(NAWG) CEO Darren Coppock. " It is very much a partnership (with

Monsanto). "

 

As one sign of the new market outreach underway by growers, NAWG is

forming a group made up of players up and down the food chain, including

leading fast food giant McDonald's Corp., to formulate a united front

for GM wheat when it hits the market.

 

The group hopes to have a strategy together within the next year.

Monsanto submitted final regulatory submissions in the U.S. and Canada

in December and regulatory approval looks to be at least 18 to 24 months

away. Monsanto has also applied for regulatory approval in Japan.

 

Cautionary voice continued to be heard. Leading buyers of U.S. wheat,

both within the U.S., and in key export markets, have stated firmly they

will not buy GM wheat. The concern is not one of safety - the science

shows no evidence of health or environmental harm - but one of public

sentiment.

 

The contamination 2-1/2 years ago of taco shells, corn chips and other

products by a GM corn not approved for food use still has food chain

players skittish, even though a GM wheat would not be released until it

had full regulatory approval.

 

And last year's contamination of soybeans with an experimental biotech

corn aimed at treating diabetes further fueled fears about a lack of

control over biotech crops.

 

" Yes, we support food biotechnology and yes, we know it is grounded in

sound science, " said Betsy Faga president of the North American Millers

Association. " But we have to ask the question, are our customers ready

for genetically enhanced wheat? "

 

Archer Daniels Midland is one company concerned about a GM wheat

introduction. While ADM accepts the safety of the technology, the

company's customers say they don't want to buy GM wheat.

 

" They're telling me they're going to go non-GMO, " said ADM milling

executive Dave Green. " They don't want to lose even a small percentage

of customers. "

 

The highest hurdle seen by many is winning over the key world buyers of

U.S. wheat, including many Asian countries. Research by U.S. Wheat, the

group that markets domestic wheat abroad, has found strong opposition

and the group has cautioned that commercialization could hurt overseas

sales.

 

That message is one growers hope to quash. Indeed, this week, wheat

growers ordered U.S. Wheat to stop talking publicly about the export

market opposition, saying such discussion only hurts the efforts to gain

acceptance.

 

" We've got to figure out how to overcome the problems, " said Darrell

Hanavan, the head of a joint wheat industry biotech advisory committee

that works closely with Monsanto.

 

" We are going to see some biotech traits in wheat in the future that are

very beneficial to us, " said Hanavan. " I think (Monsanto) wants to do

things right. "

 

01/29/03 19:06 ET

[Guest guest]

Good grief! Wheat, and bananas!!!

 

Jo

here comes GMO wheat

 

 

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