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CWB asks Monsanto to put the brakes on Roundup Ready wheat (Tuesday, May 27, 2003 -- CropChoice news) -- From a news release.
Winnipeg - The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) has called on Monsanto Canada to withdraw its application for an environmental safety assessment of Roundup ReadyR wheat (RRW). Monsanto's RRW application is currently before the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
In a May 22 letter to Monsanto Canada's President, Peter Turner, the CWB, a farmer-controlled grain marketing agency, detailed the devastating economic impact the introduction of RRW will have on western Canadian farmers.
"Economic harm could include lost access to premium markets, penalties caused by
rejected shipments, and increased farm management and grain handling costs," the
letter states. The letter is signed by Ken Ritter, chairman of the farmer-controlled board of directors, and Adrian Measner, President and CEO.
"Monsanto has said in the past it would not introduce RRW unless it was beneficial to farmers," Ritter said. "Well, there are no benefits. So we're asking Monsanto to put the interests of their customers, western Canadian farmers, ahead of their own commercial interests and put the brakes on RRW, before Prairie farmers suffer serious financial consequences."
"Customers in over 80 per cent of our markets have expressed serious reservations about genetically modified wheat," Measner said. "For us, the customer is always right. We cannot jeopardize our ability to maximize returns to western Canadian farmers through the introduction of a product our customers do not want."
The CWB has asked Monsanto to confirm its compliance with the CWB's request by June 27, 2003.
The CWB has already called on the federal government to close the regulatory gap on genetically modified wheat by adding a cost benefit analysis to the food, feed and environmental assessments currently being undertaken on RRW.
However, the CWB is taking this additional step because RRW could be approved before the introduction of any regulatory changes. "Under the current system, RRW could be approved for unconfined release as early as 2004," Ritter said. "We had to move quickly, so we are appealing to Monsanto directly."
A copy of the letter to Monsanto Canada is below.
Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. As one of Canada's biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to more than 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to Prairie farmers.
For more information, please contact:
Louise Waldman
Letter to Monsanto:
May 22, 2003
Mr. Peter Turner
Dear Mr. Turner:
As you know, the potential release of Roundup Ready(r) wheat (RRW) remains
the cause of considerable concern for wheat customers, farmers and others.
The farmer-controlled Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) is extremely concerned
that the unconfined release of RRW in Canada will result in significant and
predictable economic harm to western Canadian farmers. This harm will
occur to those who adopt the technology and those who do not, as well as to
others in the Canadian wheat value chain.
Economic harm could include lost access to premium markets, penalties
caused by rejected shipments, and increased farm management and grain
handling costs. Unfortunately, scientific data demonstrating the food
safety of RRW will not, by itself, prevent this harm. Furthermore, the CWB
is not satisfied that Monsanto's stated commitments regarding
commercialization of RRW will adequately protect the interests of western
Canadian farmers and Canada's wheat customers from this economic harm.
The CWB hereby requests Monsanto withdraw its application to the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for environmental safety assessment of RRW.
It is of the utmost importance that your decision on this request be made
as soon as possible in order to protect the interests of the wheat value
chain and to prevent the damages that may result from the unconfined
release of RRW. We ask that you confirm by June 27, 2003 your withdrawal
from the application process.
Yours truly,
Original signed by
Ken Ritter
Original signed by
Adrian C. Measner
KR/ag
066-03CH
c: Hugh Grant, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer,
Monsanto Company | |
