Posted on 18-1-2002
Organic
Farmers Sue GMO Giants
From www.saskorganic.com/oapf.htm
REGINA - A group of organic farmers in Saskatchewan is suing
two
multinational companies that make genetically modified products:
Monsanto
and Aventis.
The farmers say their fields are being invaded by genetically
engineered
seeds planted by the companies. As a result, they can't guarantee
their own
products are free from genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
"We have no
problem with their technology as long as they can segregate
it and keep it
out of our fields and out of our system," says Arnold Taylor,
president of
the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate.
SOD filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of all the certified
organic
farmers in the province. "We are seeking damages for the loss
of our canola
and of our market," says Taylor. The farmers say they can't
sell their
organic product anywhere, especially to the European Union where
strict
rules prohibit any GMOs from being present in any part of the
process.
Monsanto introduced a genetically modified canola in 1996, one
year after
Aventis introduced a similar product. Both canola plants have
been modified
to be immune to the most widely used herbicide on the priairies.
"Since
(the companies) started five, six years ago, it has been virtually
impossible to find any seed stock that's uncontaminated," says
Taylor.
Taylor says drifting seeds have caused cross-pollination with
organic seeds
and it has cost farmers millions of dollars.
This isn't the first time organic farmers and biotechnology
companies have
gone to court. Saskatchewan farmer Percy Schmeiser lost his
case against
Monsanto in April 2001. 'It's your seed, you are responsible
for it and
it's on our land' He sued the company, claiming its GM canola
seeds blew
onto his property. Schmeiser had been trying to keep his crop
GMO-free. The
company countersued saying Schmeiser used their seeds. Taylor
says SOD's
lawsuit is different. "We are saying 'It's your seed, you are
responsible
for it. It's on our land and we want compensation for damages.'"
Beyond
compensation, SOD is seeking an injunction to prevent Monsanto
and Aventis
from planting modified wheat.
Monsanto is testing a genetically modified wheat and wants to
release it
within two years. Taylor says that would be a disaster for all
organic
farmers in the province. "We obviously cannot afford to lose
wheat which is
our largest crop and biggest market."
The companies have not yet filed statements of defence and won't
comment on
the claim.
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