Greenpeace says the Stephen Harper government is paving the way for the commercialization of genetically modified wheat.
Eric Darier, a GMO activist with the environmental group, recently argued that if the Conservatives follow up on their election platform to eliminate the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly, it will neuter a strong ally of the anti-GM wheat movement.
He said the CWB played a vital role in shelving Monsanto’s herbicide tolerant wheat project and he is counting on the agency to be
arm-in-arm with Greenpeace as it fights the impending battle against the commercialization of Syngenta’s fusarium resistant wheat.
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“If the Conservative government is successful in dismantling the Canadian Wheat Board and/or weakening its powers, the possible commercialization in Canada of a Syngenta variety of GE wheat will be made that much easier,” Darier said.
But wheat board spokesperson Heather Frayne said the board hasn’t made up its mind about Syngenta’s project. The agency is not guided by a fundamental opposition to GM crops, she added; it is only interested in whether consumers will accept the product.
“If it is likely to be received in the marketplace the same way that Monsanto’s wheat was, then we’re not interested. But we don’t have an objection to GM per se,” Frayne said.
Darier said it has been two years since Monsanto stopped pursuing its GM wheat and while Greenpeace is celebrating the anniversary, it is keeping a watchful eye on Ottawa.
“We will have to remain extremely vigilant in the next few months because Stephen Harper’s Conservative government is no fan of the Canadian Wheat Board and will likely do whatever they can to undermine this earlier decision,” he said.
“Stephen Harper has already transferred responsibility for the wheat board to the ministry of agriculture, a ministry that has in the past been extremely pro-GMO. This is a clear indication of things to come on the GMO file.”
Frayne found that comment “a bit odd.”
“We don’t answer to the department of agriculture,” she noted.
While it is true that Chuck Strahl is both agriculture and CWB minister, there is no formal reporting relationship between the CWB and the agriculture department.
“It makes it sound as though we are now part of their area of responsibility. That is not appropriate,” Frayne said.
As well, she rejects the idea that anyone in government, including the prime minister, is influencing what the CWB’s stance will be on GM wheat or any other issue.
“Stephen Harper doesn’t decide what CWB policy is,” Frayne said.
“CWB policy is set by a farmer-controlled board of directors.”