Monsanto says it has no immediate plans to commercialize its genetically modified alfalfa in Canada but is taking steps in that direction.
The company will conduct small-scale field trials at 20 locations in 2008, the first such research since trials in 2001-03 to support U.S. commercialization of the crop, which resulted in Canadian regulatory approval of Roundup Ready alfalfa.
It will grow the crop this year and conduct crop tolerance and residue work in 2009 in an attempt to gain regulatory approval from the Pest Management Regulatory Agency to use Roundup herbicide on its GM alfalfa.
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“We’re moving ahead,” said Monsanto Canada spokesperson Trish Jordan.
The company says growers and industry groups have told it they would like to have the trait in their seed, although Jordan noted it has no immediate plans to commercialize the crop.
Forage Genetics International (FGI) has been granted a licence to commercialize Monsanto’s technology in alfalfa. Jordan said the latest field trials are part of the regulatory groundwork to allow FGI to proceed with its plans.
“Yes, that step does technically or potentially bring FGI closer to a commercialization decision, but they still have a number of things to do,” she said.
Jordan speculated it would be at least three years before the crop could be commercialized.
The Center for Food Safety and other groups launched a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2006, a year after FGI launched the crop in the United States. The lawsuit alleged that the USDA’s regulatory approval of the crop failed to adequately examine the potential impact of Roundup Ready alfalfa on the development of glyphosate resistant weeds and the economic impact on organic producers.
A San Francisco Federal Court judge found in favour of the plaintiffs and stopped any new sale or planting of the crop after April 1, 2007, pending completion of an environmental impact statement and a new deregulation decision by the USDA.
Opposition to the crop is also appearing in Canada.
Leslie Jacobson, president of the Manitoba Forage Seed Association, said he is concerned that the upcoming research trials and eventual commercial release could jeopardize $14.3 million in sales to the European Union, which represents one-third of the total value of annual Canadian alfalfa seed exports.
“The contamination is going to happen,” he said.
“Just think about the birds that are going to be in that field. How far do birds fly?”
Jordan said Monsanto’s safety protocols are among the best in the industry, and the company is taking adequate precautions to protect against outcrossing. It ensures that research plots aren’t located within 0.8 kilometres of a conventional alfalfa seed producer, she added, and makes sure the GM alfalfa doesn’t reach the flowering stage to eliminate pollen flow.
She said Monsanto and other companies have conducted GM alfalfa trials at 275 locations over 12 years with no impact on Canada’s alfalfa seed export markets, which makes her wonder what all the fuss is about now.
Jacobson said his association was made aware of the previous Roundup Ready trials only last December, which is why it waited until now to voice its objections.
“We’ve got no worry about the commercialization of this as long as our markets will accept the product that we’re going to grow,” he said.
“From what we understand, right now there is a host of countries that have zero tolerance.”
Roundup Ready alfalfa has been approved in the U.S., Canada, Argentina and Mexico and has import approval in a number of countries.
However, Jacobson said those approvals don’t extend to Europe, which is the largest export market for Canada’s alfalfa seed industry. He also said the U.S. approval is in limbo.
Jordan said Monsanto has updated the Canadian Seed Trade Association on its Roundup Ready alfalfa project twice a year for five years and has offered to meet with the Manitoba Forage Seed Association to discuss its concerns, but didn’t receive a response.
She said it is too soon for the industry to start panicking about what will happen in 2011 and instead should recognize that Monsanto is abiding by all of the government’s research requirements.
“I’m surprised to hear that they would be opposed to research.”
