Posted on 18-3-2003

NZ Grains Council Response Astounding
From Greenpeace NZ

Monday 17 March 2003: "NZ Grains Council chairman Hugh Ritchie's response
to Bob Willick's testimony of GE failure in Canada is astounding," said
Greenpeace GE Campaigner Steve Abel today, in response to claims by Ritchie
that the Canadian GE crop experience is irrelevant to New Zealand arable
growers.

Bob Willick told Federated Farmers Grains Council executives during a phone
conference last Friday that the ability to grow non-GE or organic canola in
Saskatchewan, Canada had been destroyed through widespread contamination by
GE canola. "We can't grow canola organically or non-GE anymore in
Saskatchewan because of GE spreading through the fields," Willick said.
That forms the basis of a class action being brought by 960 organic farmers
against Monsanto and Bayer in Canada (1).

Bob Willick described the idea of co-existence [of GE and conventional
crops] as "slick corporate deception", and asserted that the practical
reality of GE crops meant that once released, widespread contamination
ensued. Willick recounted an instance where a storm had caused it to "rain
canola", highlighting the stupidity of buffer zones as a means to stopping
GE spread. "Surely Bob Willick's first-hand experience of GE is relevant to
New Zealand and to the Grains Council's policy on GE, at a time when our
Government is devising a 'co-existence' strategy," said Abel.

When asked if the NZ Grains Council would follow the stance of the
Australian Wheat Board in calling for a ban on GE canola, Mr Ritchie
responded that the Council would leave the choice to grow or not grow GE
crops to the individual farmer.

Ritchie said: "Just as Mr Willick had the choice to move to organic
production, whilst other farmers have continued to grow GM crops [in
Canada], New Zealand arable growers should be able to retain the option of
growing GM crops if they see commercial advantage in it".

Steve Abel says Ritchie has totally missed Bob Willick's point. "You can't
grow organic canola in Saskachewan anymore, so there is no choice for
organic growers but to quit that crop. That's exactly the problem!" "Once
you release a GE crop the evidence is that it spreads,
thereby stealing the right of conventional farmers to grow GE-free and
ultimately the right of consumers to eat GE-free produce," said Abel. Abel
noted that at least there is recognition by the Grains Council that the GE
crops currently being grown in North America are of no value to NZ growers.
"But the general failure to recognise the fundamental issues of the
irreversibility of GE release, contamination of conventional
and organic production, widespread market and consumer rejection of GE
foods and the value of New Zealand's GE free production status is
concerning," said Abel.

Mr Ritchie said in the conference call, that "We [Federated Farmers]
respond to our members". On this basis Greenpeace is urging New Zealand
farmers and growers to make their feelings on GE clearly known to Federated
Farmers. "New Zealand farmers should demand that the Grains Council make a
stance against GE release, similar to that of the Australian and Canadian
Wheat Boards," said Abel.

Greenpeace is opposed to the release of genetically engineered organisms
into the environment and food chain. For more information contact: Steve
Abel, Greenpeace New Zealand GE campaigner, on 021 565 175.

(1) Two organic farmers filed a claim on behalf of all certified organic
grain farmers in Saskatchewan on 10 January 2002. The class action suit
calls for:
* Compensation for the damage caused to certified organic farmers
resulting from the introduction of GE canola into the rural environment; and
* An injunction to prevent the introduction of GE wheat.

(2) 210 North American organisations are campaigning against GE wheat
release including the Canadian Wheat board. The Australian Wheat Board
(responsible for 12% of Australia's rural exports) has also called for a
moratorium on the release of GE canola because they are concerned it will
harm their export markets.

-- Suzette Jackson Campaign Assistant, Greenpeace NZ/Aotearoa, Ph ++64 9
630 6317 Fax ++64 9 630 7121