The federal government is offering no promises to protect farmers from the alleged dangers of genetically modified wheat.
But a broad coalition of farm and social groups says it will keep pressing until the government agrees on the GM wheat issue.
“This is an inadequately tested experiment that has no place on our farms and in our food,” said Holly Penfound of Greenpeace at a Winnipeg news conference.
Stewart Wells, of the National Farmers Union, said “it would send a tremendous signal all the way across the country if the prime minister was to stand up and say that he was going to do whatever it takes to make sure Canadian farmers and the grain industry and consumers and the environment was not going to be hurt by the introduction of GM wheat.”
Read Also
Bond market seen as crop price threat
A grain market analyst believes the bond market is about to collapse and that could drive down commodity values.
Wells and Penfound were joined by representatives of Keystone Agricultural Producers, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate, the Council of Canadians and the Canadian Wheat Board.
They called on Ottawa to stop the approval of genetically modified wheat until concerns of these and other groups are satisfied.
The coalition said a flawed regulatory approval process might allow Monsanto to introduce GM wheat regardless of farmer and consumer concerns.
The next day the federal agriculture minister refused to offer assurances that he would alter the present registration system.
“No application has been made,” said Lyle Vanclief. “Once an application is made, we pride ourselves on having one of the most stringent systems in the world.”
Canadian Wheat board minister Ralph Goodale has also refused to commit the government to changing the system so that GM wheat gets special scrutiny.
Patty Rosher, of the wheat board, said GM wheat should not be introduced until export markets are ready to accept it.
Monsanto spokesperson Trish Jordan said her company is doing what it can to alleviate people’s concerns and ensure there are no troubles if the variety is approved.
“We have no intention whatsoever of introducing a product that’s going to have a negative market impact,” said Jordan.
