The best kept secret in agriculture has been revealed.
An organic crusader discovered where Monsanto is conducting genetically
modified wheat trials and has gone public.
Marc Loiselle, an organic farmer from Vonda, Sask., discovered Monsanto
authorized Agriculture Canada to conduct research trials on Roundup
Ready wheat at the federal Scott Research Farm, 150 kilometres west of
Saskatoon.
That centre also carries out organic research, which upsets Loiselle.
He is demanding that all GM research at Scott be stopped.
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“Maybe none of this would have been discussed if I had shut up and not
said anything. But I guess I just feel it’s my duty to go out there for
the benefit of the organic community and all farmers that are concerned
about GMOs to say something about what is happening.”
Stewart Brandt, section head at the Scott Research Farm, is
disappointed the centre has been pinpointed as one site where GM wheat
work is being done.
“The real risk here is that somebody might do something to sabotage
these trials,” said Brandt.
That is also Monsanto’s chief concern.
Company spokesperson Trish Jordan said the sites were kept secret
because Monsanto wanted to protect the research, ensure the safety of
scientists working on the trials and prevent people from stomping
around in the plots, which could potentially spread GM wheat outside
the confined trials.
“The reason that we don’t go around publishing the specifics around
where they are is exactly to try and meet some of these concerns that
Mr. Loiselle and other people are bringing up,” said Jordan.
This is the fifth year of research trials on Roundup Ready wheat.
Jordan said the crop will be seeded on 15 acres at 33 locations across
Western Canada, including 13 or 14 Agriculture Canada research
stations. Trials will also be conducted by universities, private
researchers and Monsanto scientists.
Brandt said the centre is taking precautions to ensure that no GM wheat
escapes the confines of the research plots. The Roundup Ready wheat is
isolated from other crops and equipment used in the GM plots is cleaned
before leaving the sites.
GM crop material is disposed of by a commercial company after harvest
to ensure it does not enter the human food chain.
Loiselle isn’t satisfied.
“To me, regardless of what precautions you take, it really makes no
difference. Something is going to happen eventually.”
Loiselle, who helped organize a lawsuit to prevent Monsanto from
introducing GM wheat to the Prairies, said nobody he knows would
purposely sabotage the trials or harm researchers.
“That’s something we don’t condone whatsoever,” said the farmer.
“I mean, we’re playing by the rules here. We’re taking companies to
court and we’re trying to do this through due process.”
