Posted on 20-4-2003
Grain
Elevator Operators Resist Transgenic Wheat
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, April 16, 2003 (ENS) - North
Dakota grain elevator operators who responded to a new poll
about the proposed introduction of Monsantos genetically engineered
Roundup Ready wheat are overwhelmingly concerned that the new
wheat will be rejected by consumers in the United States and
abroad, causing a failure of confidence in U.S. grain products.
Consumers worry that genetically modified crops can cause allergic
reactions, contaminate nearby fields, and prevent farmers from
saving seeds from year to year.
Release of genetically engineered wheat before customer acceptance
"could be death to the U.S. spring wheat market,"
one elevator operator wrote on his survey form. The export trade
equals about 45 percent of the entire market for U.S. spring
wheat growers.
Monsanto petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service for approval of its genetically
engineered wheat variety on December 19, 2002, and has also
applied for approval of the product in Canada. The new wheat
is engineered to be tolerant of Monsanto's Roundup Ready herbicide
applications, a trait the company says will allow increased
yield and simplified weed management.
Monsanto has already received government approval for several
genetically modified crop varieties, including corn and soybeans.
The Minneapolis based Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
sent the survey to 317 North Dakota grain elevators in March.
Fifty-two elevator operators responded.
The survey was conducted first in North Dakota because it is
the number one state in Hard Red Spring Wheat production, and
spring wheat is the first genetically engineered wheat variety
slated for commercial release. The Institute is surveying elevators
in other major wheat producing states, and will release those
results as they are compiled.
Ninety-eight percent of North Dakota grain elevator operators
responding to the survey said they were either very concerned
(82 percent) or somewhat concerned (16 percent) about the proposed
introduction of the Roundup Ready wheat.
In addition, 78 percent of the operators who responded to the
survey supported an expanded public review of genetically engineered
wheat compared to what the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
has previously required for approval of genetically engineered
crops.
The worldwide consumer must have confidence with the credibility
of the U.S. farmer and government dealers, which will have no
control should Monsanto be in control of wheat releases,said
one elevator operator. Where is the demand for Roundup Ready
wheat? Not one consumer group wants it!
"This survey reflects serious concern among North Dakota
wheat elevator operators about the potential adverse economic
impacts of genetically engineered wheat," said Dennis Olson,
senior associate at the Institute. "It also shows strong
support for a more comprehensive public review of genetically
engineered wheat introduction than USDA has previously required
for other crops.Seventy-eight percent of the operators who responded
to the survey supported an expanded public review of the new
wheat.
Monsanto acknowledges that "some export markets have expressed
a preference for conventional sources of wheat." The company
says it is consulting the wheat industry and export customers
to "develop a commercial approach for Roundup Ready wheat
that facilitates choice for wheat buyers."
But elevator operators said that the feasibility of creating
a workable segregation system was of concern to them. Its impossible
to have a segregation system with zero tolerance,wrote one operator.
Olson points out that major wheat importing countries prohibit
or require labeling of genetically engineered crops. "Some
have said that they will not buy any U.S. wheat if genetically
engineered wheat is approved, because there is currently no
segregation system in place to prevent GE contamination of conventional
wheat."
All elevator operators responding to the survey said their customers
were concerned about genetically modified (GM) wheat deregulation,
with 77 percent characterizing their customersconcern to be
either very high (54 percent) or high (23 percent).
Olson says that based on the time taken for USDA reviews of
other genetically engineered crops the agency has authorized,
Monsantos petition for Roundup Ready wheat could be legally
approved by the 2004 spring planting season.
In February, wheat growers filed a petition with the USDA arguing
that the agency is legally required to conduct a comprehensive
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prior to approving Monsantos
genetically engineered wheat petition. An EIS would require
a thorough analysis of the socio-economic impacts of genetically
engineered wheat introduction, and provide more time for public
comment, Olson said.
"Those wanting a more comprehensive review of genetically
engineered wheat will have to demand it of the USDA, which has
been reluctant to conduct such reviews with other genetically
engineered crops,he said.
A recent economic study by Dr. Robert Wisner, professor of economics
at Iowa State University, projected that the price of spring
wheat could drop by about one-third if a genetically engineered
variety is introduced commercially in the next two to six years.
In the past four years the U.S. has lost over a billion dollars
of corn and soybean meal exports because of foreign GMO concerns,"
Dr. Wisner wrote, amd noted that other wheat exporting countries
have ample supplies of conventional wheat for concerned buyers.
Risks from the introduction of genetically engineered wheat
may arise from displacement of native species by the transgenic
plants. The development of crops resistant to insect, bacterial
and fungal attack may jeopardize the survival of native species,
including beneficial insects.
"Some scientists have raised concerns about whether the
process of genetic engineering could inadvertently increase
natural toxins or decrease nutrients in some foods," said
"Consumer Reports" in a 1999 article. "Others
fear that some people could have an allergic reaction to one
or more of the new proteins in genetically engineered foods.
In the mid-1990s, pre-market screening of soybeans modified
with the gene of a Brazil nut caused allergic reactions among
some volunteers who were allergic to Brazil nuts. The soy was
not marketed after reactions were seen, but there is no mandatory
screening process to guarantee that an unanticipated allergen
will be detected or withheld from the market before a product
is widely distributed."
Monsanto says that its Roundup Ready wheat is safe and that
the wheat industry will have "an opportunity to inform
customers about the safety and benefits of biotechnology"
before the new wheat is available to growers.
Speaking on behalf of the North Dakota Grain Dealers Association,
Tony Johannesen told the U.S. Senate Agricultural Committee
hearing on February 13 that information for wheat customers
may not be sufficient to create demand for biotech wheat.
Although the association is "not anti-GMO" and has
testified in the past to its "great potential," said
Johannesen, the spring wheat market is a customer driven market,
and "until the customer sees value, he has much to lose
and little if anything to gain with GM spring wheat."
"We arent saying that food from genetically modified crops
is dangerous," said Johannesen. "But in the market,
perception is reality. Right now the perception, whether that
be wrong or right, is not in our favor on GM wheat."
Foreign buyers representing nearly 50 percent of U.S. wheat
exports request a declaration from the Federal Grain Inspection
Service (FGIS) that says, There are no transgenic wheat varieties
for sale or in commercial production in the United States at
this time.
Johannesen said that among the countries requesting the statement
are the largest importers of U.S. wheat, including Japan, Mexico,
the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and Italy. "What
happens when FGIS can no longer issue such a declaration is
not known," he said. "Many more stakeholders than
seed companies have a vital interest in that. This entire state
has a vital interest in that."
Another state is also exercising extreme caution about the acceptance
of genetically engineered wheat. On January 27 the Montana State
Senate unanimously passed a bill which says that the introduction
of GM wheat and barley must be carefully timed so that it occurs
only when there is acceptance of these crops by Montanas major
customers.
Johannesen confirmed that segregation of the genetically modified
wheat from the rest of the wheat stream will not take place.
"Weve heard legislators say that the grain elevators are
able to segregate out most anything," Johannesen told the
Senate committee. "Thanks for the confidence, but I hope
everyone understands that segregating to zero tolerance is impossible."
Responding to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
survey, one elevator operator wrote, "If genetically engineered
wheat is introduced I will quit handling wheat. It would be
literally impossible to segregate GM wheat. I think its about
time we hold responsible the companies developing products,
which ruin our market."
|