On May 14, 2009, farm groups in the world’s top wheat-exporting countries announced their support for the development of commercially available GMO wheat. This came five years to the month that Monsanto announced it was shelving development of a “Roundup Ready” wheat after protests from wheat buyers. For Reuter’s story, click here.
The groups signing the agreement are:
The National Wheat Growers Association, U.S. Wheat Associates, the North American Millers' Association, the Grain Growers of Canada, the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association and the Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission. Australian signatories include Grains Council of Australia, Grain Growers Association and the Pastoralists and Graziers Association of Western Australia.According to the groups,
The key food crop currently lacks any genetically altered seed options, unlike corn and soybeans, which have been tinkered with by a variety of biotech agricultural companies.A recent survey by the National Wheat Growers Association showed 76% of wheat growers in favor of the commercialization of biotechnology in wheat. For press release, click here.
Biotech strains of corn and soybeans that resist pests and tolerate herbicide field treatments now dominate the U.S. market and are growing in share around the world.
Wheat farmers who have eyed advancements made in other crops say similar genetically altered opportunities for wheat could help them increase yields and become more profitable.
But yesterday, June 1, 2009, fifteen farm and environmental groups countered this call for a GMO wheat. The groups represent the top-wheat exporting countries of Canada, the U.S., and Australia. For Reuter’s story, click here.
According to Julie Newman of the Network of Concerned Farmers in Australia, “Genetic engineering for wheat would be a calamity for all wheat farmers[.] Consumers across the world have already rejected the idea of GE wheat." Also according to Katherine Ozer, of the National Family Farm Coalition,
"If (genetically engineered) wheat is released commercially, contamination would be inevitable and markets would view all wheat produced from these areas as GE unless proven to be non-GE," the groups stated. "Farmers growing GE wheat will take on all of the responsibilities, costs and liabilities, with little available legal recourse to recover their losses."Besides the National Family Farm Coalition and the Network of Concerned Farmers in Australia, other groups opposing GM wheat include the National Farmers Union, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, the Organic Federation of Australia, Biological Farmers of Australia, Greenpeace and the U.S.-based Organic Consumers Association.
Posted 06/02/09
