Canada Okays GMO Wheat

Barbara H. Peterson

Farm Wars

Canada is giving the go ahead to GMO wheat. Although it is not ready for production yet, the plans are set:

The National Research Council plans to develop genetically modified wheat in Canada — a measure long resisted by the country’s wheat farmers.

The NRC says Canadian wheat farmers are becoming less productive and need to adapt, especially in the face of climate change. It suggests GM wheat as a solution.

In the past week, senior NRC management has been unveiling its long-term strategy to its researchers and other staff. The goal, says a leaked copy of the plan, is to become a “market-driven organization whose primary goal is to develop and deploy technology.”

And it says building better wheat is one of the top goals.

Canada is “losing global market share for our exports,” it says. “Our annual productivity is ranked last against other top producing countries.” As demand rises, “climate change is impacting our agricultural production.”

The document outlines how transgenic wheat could produce new hybrids that will be “a game changer.” (Transgenic organisms have DNA modified through genetic engineering techniques, to create a desirable trait such as resistance to disease.)

But the document warns that a “huge effort” will be necessary to decode all the genetic material in wheat and to learn what traits can be manipulated in the lab.

Vancouver Sun

In my article, “America’s Silent Killing Fields,” I cite how statistics are manipulated and any resistance by wheat farmers is swept under the table:

A March, 2009 report on GMO Compass states:

A majority of farmers in the USA have expressed approval in a poll on genetically modified wheat. They expect gene technology to contribute towards solutions to current problems in wheat cultivation…..

In conducting the survey, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) approached in writing 21,000 farmers with a wheat cultivation area of at least 200 hectares. A third of those addressed participated in the poll. The object of the survey was the opinion of farmers towards a petition that was formulated by the NAWG and contained essential statements towards genetically modified wheat. Three-quarters (76 per cent) of the participating farmers agreed with the petition.

Let’s do the math:

NAWG approached 21,000 farmers. One-third, or 7,000 farmers participated. Out of that 7,000, 76%, or 5,320, approved of GMO wheat. 5,320 is only 25% of the 21,000 farmers originally approached. NOT A MAJORITY OF FARMERS! This statement is simply not true! The pollsters are twisting the statistics to suit their own purposes. What about the other 14,000 farmers, or two-thirds of all farmers who were not represented in the poll?

Five years ago, the Monsanto company abandoned plans for the market introduction of genetically modified wheat, since many farmers feared losses in wheat export to Europe and Asia. “Our farmers still have no interest in herbicide-resistant Roundup wheat,” declared a spokesperson of the NAWG. However, farmers demand increased yield and wheat types that better withstand heat, dryness and cold. As stated by the NAWG, “Our poll is a strong signal that farmers are ready to plant genetically modified wheat.”

Monsanto clearly benefits from the pollster’s twisted statistics. Who cares about the truth, full steam ahead!

The lie of higher yields is also being spread in order to promote these abominations, but Devinder Sharma states:

I draw your attention to a research experiment being reported from Switzerland for transgene x environment interactions in genetically modified wheat. The team of researchers, led by Simon L Zeller from the Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Environment Studies at the University of Zurich, had used the transgene wheat variety Bobwhite SH 98 26 transformed with a powdery mildew resistance gene Pm3b. They grew four offspring pairs, each consisting of a GM line and its corresponding non-GM line, under different soil nutrient conditions and also treated for fungicide treatments in the glasshouse as well as in the field.

What is interesting is to see the performance of the transgene in the glasshouse conditions and in the fields. It differed quite significantly. This is what the researchers found: Without fungicide treatment, in the glasshouse GM lines had increased vegetative biomass and seed number and a twofold yield compared with control lines. In the field these results were reversed. Fertilization generally increased GM/control differences in the glasshouse but not in the field. Two of four GM lines showed up to 56% yield reduction and a 40-fold increase of infection with ergot disease Claviceps purpurea compared with their control lines in the field experiment; one GM line was very similar to its control

Even if wheat farmers in Canada and the U.S. don’t want their wheat genetically modified, and yields have not proven to be greater, but in fact less in controlled experiments, it doesn’t matter. Whatever underhanded manipulations these compromised governments have to do to appease their genetically modified partners in crime, they will do, and we are simply cannon fodder. Is there anything that will stop these criminals?

It seems that we are being rolled over by a juggernaut that is so big that any resistance is crushed. So, what do we do? Dig in and plant like your life depends on it because it does. It is up to us as individuals to make the difference. Boycott all GMO foods, and grow, grow, grow your own food. Grow enough for your neighbors. Grow as much as you can, and save the seeds.  We are in the fight of our lives.

UPDATE!

Due to intense pressure, the following statement was released today, April 7, 2011, by the National Research Council of Canada:

Update. Thursday, April 7, 2011: The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) issued a statement to clarify that it has no plans to research genetically modified (GM) wheat.

NRC now states: “GM wheat is not an objective of the NRC wheat program. We will be developing a number of tools that will be used to reduce the breeding cycle, increase yield and adapt to climate stresses. GM varieties are not contemplated at this time.”

CBan

“GM varieties are not contemplated AT THIS TIME.” Hopefully, the pressure can be sustained to keep them from contemplating GM varieties at ANY time. Go Canada!

(C) Barbara H. Peterson

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http://www.non-gmoreport.com/articles/april2011/organicnongmocornoutperformsgmo.php

http://www.non-gmoreport.com/nongeneticallymodifiedfoodorganic/gmocontamination.php

http://www.non-gmoreport.com/nongeneticallymodifiedfoodorganic/gmonews.php

http://www.non-gmoreport.com/articles/nov09/scientists_criticizing_gm_foods.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_organism

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