Volume 666463 Issue 4 NFU calls for better regulation, disclosure of test JulyJuly 2018 2018 plot locations and end to open air GM crop testing following Alberta wheat contamination incident n June 14, 2018 when the Canadian of genetically modified wheat to prevent O Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) released potentially more serious incidents in the information about a small patch of future.” unapproved genetically modified wheat On behalf of the NFU, Boehm also wrote to discovered growing on an oil rig access road in CFIA President Paul Glover, requesting full Alberta in 2017, the NFU responded quickly. In disclosure of the locations of all current and a media release, Terry Boehm, chair of the past open‐air test plots of genetically modified National Farmers Union Seed Committee, said wheat so farmers and others can be on the “We are relieved that this GMO wheat incident look‐out for escapes, and as citizen monitors, was discovered and action was taken quickly assist in the eradication of contamination risks E-MAIL: to prevent contamination of Canada’s if additional genetically modified plants are ▪ commercial wheat stocks and seed supplies. found. This is a close call, which we hope will not The potential impact on farmers’ liveli‐ result in lost markets or lower prices for hoods and the Canadian economy that would wheat.” occur if contamination resulted in permanent‐ This incident is a reminder of the serious ly closed markets is an unacceptable risk. risk to market access and potential “We sincerely hope that the Alberta E-MAIL: [email protected] devastation of farmers’ incomes that have ▪ incident is isolated. How the genetically been put in motion by the CFIA when it modified wheat plants ended up in the allowed field testing of genetically engineered newsletter ‐ OON, SK S7K 4B6 location where they were found remains a crops. Back in 2001, the National Farmers 2717 WENTZ AVENUE, SASKATOON, SK S7K 4B6 SK SASKATOON, WENTZ2717 AVENUE, S7K 4B6 SK SASKATOON, WENTZ2717 AVENUE, mystery. However, it is clear that the test plot Union called for an end to secret, open‐air ONAL FARMERS UNION, 2717 ONAL FARMERS protocol has been inadequate to prevent an field tests of genetically engineered crops in escape,” said Boehm. “The only way to Canada. Since 2000, the NFU has maintained prevent these incidents happening in the that companies promoting genetically FAX: 306-664-6226 306-664-6226 FAX: future is to ban outdoor testing.” ▪ engineered crops such as Monsanto (now FAX: 306-664-6226 According to the CFIA, biotech companies ▪ Bayer) must be held responsible for losses incurred by farmers as a result of have done field trials of genetically modified contamination incidents. wheat most years since 1998, including two in Ontario in 2011 and 2012, and 52 in Alberta in “The CFIA went ahead with open‐air trials, 2014. Monsanto did outdoor genetically assuring farmers that their protocols for modified herbicide tolerant wheat trials from isolating genetically modified plants from the 1998 through 2004. Syngenta and BASF did rest of agriculture were adequate. Today we field testing in 2005 and 2006. For the past see that an escape has happened, and that the five years, most of the field trials have been regulatory process in place in the late‐1990s WENTZ AVENUE, SASKAT done in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Fifty‐ PHONE: 306-652-9465 and early 2000s did not even require biotech four field trials of genetically modified wheat companies to provide the CFIA with full — including 32 by Bayer Crop Science, which information about the plants they were has just purchased Monsanto — were carried testing,” noted Boehm. union farmer out in Saskatchewan and Manitoba in 2017. A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL FARMERS UNION, A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL FARMERS UNION, A A PUBLICATION OF THE NATI PHONE: 306-652-9465 306-652-9465 PHONE: Boehm said, “We may have dodged a bullet this time, thanks to observant and responsible workers who spotted the wheat that survived spraying with glyphosate and the civil servants More information and links to CFIA documents who looked after testing and monitoring to about the incident are available on the NFU ensure this is an isolated incident. But now website at www.nfu.ca . would be a good time to stop open‐air testing Page 2 Union Farmer Newsletter OP-ED: Cereals Canada’s Irresponsible GM Wheat Policy —by Stewart Wells he discovery of genetically modified (GM) spring wheat There is no question that the policies of Cereals Canada T plants growing in Alberta is disappointing and members such as the Western Canadian Wheat Growers damaging to Canadian farmers. As is the reaction by Cereals and Grain Growers of Canada helped provide Monsanto Canada—an industry‐dominated group that falsely claims to and the government the cover they needed to seed represent Canadian wheat farmers. experimental plots of GM wheat at secret and undisclosed locations 15 years ago, over the strongest objections of An article published in 2014 quotes Cereals Canada organizations like the National Farmers Union. (Even President, Cam Dahl saying, “Cereals Canada’s support for provincial governments were not trusted to know the GM wheat is consistent with the policy of its member locations of the plots.) associations, which includes the Grain Growers, miller’s association and life science companies. The policy was The farmer‐run Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) also adopted by Cereals Canada Board of Directors…” Following recognized the marketing liability that GM wheat posed. In a GM wheat contamination incident in Oregon in 2014, 2003 the CWB’s media relations manager said, “Our Cereals Canada also signed on to a statement in support of customers are telling us they don't want to buy GM wheat, further investment in, and commercialization of genetically the market is telling us they don't want it, and we certainly modified wheat. Cereals Canada supported an irresponsible haven't seen evidence that people want it”. policy then, and they haven’t learned anything from Canada The CWB stood up for the interests of Canadian losing important markets now. farmers and our international customers who do not want Escapes of genetically engineered plants and resulting GMO wheat. No doubt its firm opposition to GM wheat is market disruptions were predicted by the NFU 15 years ago another reason that members of Cereals Canada worked and were a major reason for the NFU’s opposition to GM so hard to destroy the CWB. Clearly, Cereals Canada wheat. Japan, which was the highest priced market when cannot be trusted to represent the interests of Canadian the Canadian Wheat Board was marketing Canadian wheat, wheat farmers. has stopped all shipments of Canadian wheat and flour. Cereals Canada has worked against the interests of Others may follow. In June 2003, an NFU media release farmers on other issues, as well. By continually highlighted the unacceptable risks of GM wheat, calling undermining the Canadian Grain Commission, and calling it BSE for Grain Farmers: for U.S. grain to freely enter Canada and be comingled “Canadian cattle producers are experiencing the with Canadian grain, Cereals Canada promotes other devastating consequences of border closures and market irresponsible policies. It would be untenable to maintain losses that have resulted from BSE. At the same time, the current rail rates (MRE) if large amounts of U.S. grain however, the Canadian government is considering the were clogging up the Canadian transportation system. approval of the grain system equivalent of BSE: genetically‐ Cereals Canada has recently embarked on a plan to modified wheat. GM wheat will lead to massive market merge with/take over the Canadian International Grains losses and will effectively close borders to Canadian exports. Institute (CIGI). The farmer checkoff money that helps But unlike BSE—which can be rooted out and markets and support CIGI makes it a target that is just too good to pass borders reopened—the devastating effects of GM wheat will up. However, with the mission statement “to be the be permanent.” trusted independent source for milling, quality and end‐ Rather than recognize that their blind support of GM use functionality expertise for millers and end users of wheat has helped create today’s contamination problem, Canadian grain to increase market opportunities and end‐ Cereals Canada and its members were quick to revert to the user success”, CIGI does incredibly important work on “it’s all safe” biotech industry mantra, which ignores the behalf of Canadian farmers and it would be extremely very real market problems they helped to create. And damaging to have CIGI taking the same irresponsible policy therein lies one of the central problems with Cereals positions endorsed by Cereals Canada. Given its track Canada—on this issue, and many others, some of its Board record, Cereals Canada has no right to a merger or members are in a conflict of interest. For a so‐called life takeover of the CIGI. science company, passing up an opportunity to sell more chemicals or seed would contradict their company’s —Stewart Wells was President of the interests. National Farmers Union from 2001 to 2009 July 2018 Volume 66 Issue 4 Union Farmer Newsletter Page 3 Agroecology, Livestock and Global Warming: how our institutions make a difference —by Cathy Holtslander, NFU Director of Research and Policy nstitutions such as orderly marketing, community provinces shut down their marketing boards in support of I pastures and grazing co‐ops help farmers succeed when the federal strategy to accelerate pork exports in the late using production systems that are good for the land, the 1990s. animals, our communities and the climate. By comparing Single‐desk hog marketing did not use quotas, but still scale and methods of production under different balanced supply and demand within each province.