Considerations:
Considerations A whole suite of Roundup Ready™ (and other herbicide-tolerant) products are in the wings pending RR wheat approval (e.g., Monsanto’s RR lettuce cultivar Raider).
Wheat is Canada’s largest export crop. Since several countries have said that they won’t accept GM wheat, Canadian farmers will lose large markets (there are competitors). Segregation and separate handling/shipping systems will not work. The biotech industry has already made convincing arguments that such systems are too expensive. Why the change of tone now with RR wheat?
Social impacts on farming communities include threats to social cohesion: culture of surveillance (TUAs and “snitching” to prevent free-rider problem), generates conflict between farmers, advantages large-scale farmers thus leading to increased rural migration.
Slide3:
Not possible for the public to avoid GM food (ethical, religious, other concerns) since labelling is not mandatory. GM wheat will be used in thousands of products.
Private benefit – public risk: No benefit to the consuming public.
How can we trust the federal government when they regulate (CFIA and HC) novel products, and are involved simultaneously in the development of them (Ag Canada). Both CFIA and AG Canada report to the Minister of Ag – clear conflict of interest.
GM wheat will further destroy the organic market – this has already happened with canola.
Wheat is a symbolic food – like milk. Some things should not be messed with!
No need for RR wheat. More than enough wheat already produced. Surplus wheat just lowers the price of the commodity and squeezes farmers more. Also, there are approx 17,000 wheat varieties already available – this should be enough variety to provide solutions to the challenges posed by wheat production.