News Update From The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods
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Dear News Update Subscribers,
As we reported in our last News Update, the wheat industry is having
their annual meeting this week. The news coming out of the wheat
industry conference is not good for supporters of organic agriculture.
It had previously appeared that the wheat industry was fairly united in
opposing the introduction of genetically engineered wheat. Now that
opposition seems to be eroding rapidly as the article posted below
titled "U.S. farmers to help win GM wheat acceptance" will explain.
If the U.S. government approves genetically engineered wheat and the
wheat industry supports its introduction, there will soon be millions of
acres of genetically engineered wheat planted in the United States. And
if genetically engineered wheat gets approved, genetically engineered
rice will likely be next.
Although wheat and rice pollen does not travel as far as corn pollen,
the potential for contamination of organic wheat and rice from the
genetically engineered varieties is practically inevitable if millions
of acres get planted. And make no mistake about it, there will be
millions of acres of genetically engineered wheat and rice planted in
the United States in this decade unless supporters of organic
agriculture are successful in opposing it.
When Jeremy Rifkin spoke about the threat of genetically engineered
crops at the Natural Products Expo East meeting in Washington, DC last
October, he stated, "This is a life and death issue for your industry."
He went on to say that if we don't stop it in the next five years, it
will likely be to late to save organic agriculture.
The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods hopes the organic and
natural food industries are paying close attention to what is developing
in the battle to bring genetically engineered wheat to market.
As the article posted below states, "While two years ago, the wheat
farmers viewed Monsanto's GM wheat proposal with some suspicion and fear
of losing markets, this week's annual gathering found firm support for
Monsanto and eagerness to obtain the potential benefits the technology
might offer."
For further information on the threat genetically engineered crops pose
to organic agriculture, you may want to read the book "Saving Organic
Rice" by Alex Jack. It features a forward by Michael Potter, President
of Eden Foods, and is available through The Campaign's online store at:
http://www.thecampaign.org/store.php
Craig Winters
Executive Director
The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods
The Campaign
PO Box 55699
Seattle, WA 98155
Tel: 425-771-4049
Fax: 603-825-5841
E-mail: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Web Site: http://www.thecampaign.org
Mission Statement: "To create a national grassroots consumer campaign
for the purpose of lobbying Congress and the President to pass
legislation that will require the labeling of genetically engineered
foods in the United States."
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U.S. farmers to help win GM wheat acceptance
By Carey Gillam
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Jan 29 (Reuters) - U.S. wheat farmers were moving to
help Monsanto Co. overcome customer apprehension to the world's first
genetically modified wheat, which is moving closer to regulatory
approval both in the U.S. and abroad.
"Consumers trust farmers," said Monsanto wheat industry affairs
spokesman Michael Doane. "We've been investing in this technology... now
for probably a decade. We're entering a new part of the project and need
industry help to educate decision makers."
After spending more than a decade - and tens of millions of dollars - in
development of a genetically modified wheat that allows farmers to more
efficiently control weeds, Monsanto has hit a critical juncture, said
Doane, who was spending this week at a meeting of key wheat industry
players in Albuquerque.
Doane said the company needs farmer groups to step up global educational
efforts to overcome the fears of millers and bakers and food companies
who have seen the food industry rocked by controversy over genetically
modified crops.
And the farmers are on board. While two years ago, the wheat farmers
viewed Monsanto's GM wheat proposal with some suspicion and fear of
losing markets, this week's annual gathering found firm support for
Monsanto and eagerness to obtain the potential benefits the technology
might offer.
"Rather than sitting on the sidelines hoping that it wins acceptance...
we're trying to help out," said National Association of Wheat Growers
(NAWG) CEO Darren Coppock. "It is very much a partnership (with
Monsanto)."
As one sign of the new market outreach underway by growers, NAWG is
forming a group made up of players up and down the food chain, including
leading fast food giant McDonald's Corp., to formulate a united front
for GM wheat when it hits the market.
The group hopes to have a strategy together within the next year.
Monsanto submitted final regulatory submissions in the U.S. and Canada
in December and regulatory approval looks to be at least 18 to 24 months
away. Monsanto has also applied for regulatory approval in Japan.
Cautionary voice continued to be heard. Leading buyers of U.S. wheat,
both within the U.S., and in key export markets, have stated firmly they
will not buy GM wheat. The concern is not one of safety - the science
shows no evidence of health or environmental harm - but one of public
sentiment.
The contamination 2-1/2 years ago of taco shells, corn chips and other
products by a GM corn not approved for food use still has food chain
players skittish, even though a GM wheat would not be released until it
had full regulatory approval.
And last year's contamination of soybeans with an experimental biotech
corn aimed at treating diabetes further fueled fears about a lack of
control over biotech crops.
"Yes, we support food biotechnology and yes, we know it is grounded in
sound science," said Betsy Faga president of the North American Millers
Association. "But we have to ask the question, are our customers ready
for genetically enhanced wheat?"
Archer Daniels Midland is one company concerned about a GM wheat
introduction. While ADM accepts the safety of the technology, the
company's customers say they don't want to buy GM wheat.
"They're telling me they're going to go non-GMO," said ADM milling
executive Dave Green. "They don't want to lose even a small percentage
of customers."
The highest hurdle seen by many is winning over the key world buyers of
U.S. wheat, including many Asian countries. Research by U.S. Wheat, the
group that markets domestic wheat abroad, has found strong opposition
and the group has cautioned that commercialization could hurt overseas
sales.
That message is one growers hope to quash. Indeed, this week, wheat
growers ordered U.S. Wheat to stop talking publicly about the export
market opposition, saying such discussion only hurts the efforts to gain
acceptance.
"We've got to figure out how to overcome the problems," said Darrell
Hanavan, the head of a joint wheat industry biotech advisory committee
that works closely with Monsanto.
"We are going to see some biotech traits in wheat in the future that are
very beneficial to us," said Hanavan. "I think (Monsanto) wants to do
things right."
01/29/03 19:06 ET
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