05
Jun
International Groups Pledge to Block GE Wheat
(Beyond Pesticides, June 5, 2009) Farmers, consumers and civil society organizations in Australia, Canada and the U.S. released a joint statement confirming their collective commitment to stop commercialization of genetically engineered (GE) wheat. In 2004, global pressure prevented biotechnology company Monsanto from pushing GE wheat onto an unwilling market.
The statement, “Definitive Global Rejection of Genetically Engineered Wheat,” was released to counter the May 14 “Wheat Commercialization Statement,” released by industry lobby groups in the three countries. The industry pledged to “work toward the goal of synchronized commercialization of biotech traits in our wheat crops.” The joint statement was released by 15 groups in Australia, Canada and the U.S., including the National Farmers Union, the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, the National Family Farm Coalition in the U.S. and the Network of Concerned Farmers in Australia, and counters the six stated industry arguments in favour of GE wheat.
“GE wheat is a potential disaster of huge proportions,” said Terry Bohem, Vice President of the National Farmers Union in Canada. “We refuse to allow Monsanto and industry groups to restart any campaign to commercialize GE wheat.”
The group statement centers on the pledge: “In light of our existing experience with genetic engineering, and recognizing the global consumer rejection of genetically engineered wheat, we restate our definitive opposition to GE wheat and our commitment to stopping the commercialization of GE traits in our wheat crops.”
“Genetic engineering for wheat would be a calamity for all wheat farmers. Consumers across the world have already rejected the idea of GE wheat but corporations are intent on controlling this crop through their gene patents,” said Julie Newman, wheat grower and member of the Network of Concerned Farmers in Australia.
In 2004, Monsanto withdrew its applications for approval for GE wheat in Canada and the U.S. due to intensive consumer and farmer protest. The wheat is engineered to be tolerant to Monsanto’s brand-name herbicide Roundup (glyphosate). Genetically engineered crops have been linked to increased pesticide use, insect and weed resistance, and have been banned in large parts of the developed world. In addition, genetic drift can hurt farmers who choose not to plant GE crops. Beyond Pesticides and other groups have successfully sued to prevent GE threats to organic and conventional farming.
“Monsanto needs to accept defeat,” said Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, a coalition of 18 groups. “The industry groups in our three countries are promising to force this product on all of us but today we reiterate our pledge to stop them.”
“Monsanto and industry groups in our countries need to abandon their agenda of forcing GE wheat onto a market that doesn’t want or need it,” said Katherine Ozer, Executive Director of the National Family Farm Coalition in the U.S.
The groups signing the statement have also asked groups around the world to sign on at www.cban.ca/globalstopGE wheat before August 31, 2009. For more information on GE food, click here, and for organic alternatives, click here. Keep in mind that in the U.S., there is no GE labeling requirement. Organic products, which do not allow GE ingredients, are one way to ensure that you can avoid them.
Monsanto will soon have control of wheat ,corn ,soybean and who knows what else ,and the leaders of the Farm Bureau will give it to them ,unless people stand up and speak against this.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:32 amOh ,I know its free market ,capitalism ,science for the good ,we have to or the world will starve ,No I’m not hunger, We have to ,bla,bla,bla,.” Soon Monsanto and a few other will have a cartel that will make OPEC look like nothing . Yeah I’m a alarmist ,can’t stand to see anybody succeed ,especially someone on the backs of small farmers and the landless.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:46 am