Organic farmers take chemical companies to court

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Published: January 17, 2002

Two Saskatchewan certified organic farmers have launched a lawsuit

against Monsanto and Aventis alleging that genetically modified canola

has destroyed any prospect for growing organic canola in Canada.

Larry Hoffman of Spalding and Dale Beaudoin of Maymont are named as the

two plaintiffs in the suit, but they are part of a much bigger game.

Members of the organic industry are hoping the suit qualifies as a

class action case under new provincial legislation.

If that happens, all organic farmers in Saskatchewan who were certified

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between January 1996 and December 2001 will be represented in the suit,

with the possibility of other certified growers residing outside the

province being given the option to participate at a later date.

Terry Zakreski, the farmers’ lawyer, said the damages they are seeking

cannot be determined yet, but he anticipates it will amount to millions

of dollars.

Arnold Taylor, president of the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate, the

group that is organizing and raising funds to support the legal action,

said it is impossible to market Canadian organic canola as a GM-free

product.

“Canola, being in a large market, should be a very valuable crop in our

rotations, but with the proliferation of GE canola, it is almost

impossible to buy uncontaminated seed, let alone contend with

contamination from pollen drift.”

A recent survey of Saskatchewan organic farmers showed they seeded 806

acres of canola out of a total of 159,000 acres of organic crops.

“Our ability to farm organically is being threatened,” said Taylor.

Representatives for Monsanto Canada Inc., which makes Roundup Ready

canola, and Aventis Cropscience Canada Co., which makes Liberty Link

and Invigor, said they couldn’t directly comment on the lawsuit. But

they said all the named products were approved by Canadian regulatory

authorities.

Steve Meister, director of communications with Aventis, said a study by

the Canola Council of Canada has shown that GM canola increases yields,

improves weed control, reduces fuel costs and helps with soil

conservation.

“In that report they estimated that these crops had added more than

$400 million to the agriculture economy over the past four years.”

The statement of claim filed by the organic farmers also calls for an

injunction to prevent Monsanto from introducing genetically modified

wheat in Saskatchewan. Taylor said GM canola hurt the industry but GM

wheat would deliver “a mortal blow.”

Trish Jordan, spokesperson for Monsanto, said the chemical company will

not move forward with GM wheat until it can meet all the regulatory and

stewardship concerns that have been raised.

Meister said Aventis has done preliminary studies on GM wheat but has

nothing “imminent” for the marketplace.

About the author

Sean Pratt

Sean Pratt

Reporter/Analyst

Sean Pratt has been working at The Western Producer since 1993 after graduating from the University of Regina’s School of Journalism. Sean also has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan and worked in a bank for a few years before switching careers. Sean primarily writes markets and policy stories about the grain industry and has attended more than 100 conferences over the past three decades. He has received awards from the Canadian Farm Writers Federation, North American Agricultural Journalists and the American Agricultural Editors Association.

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