by KRISTIAN PARTINGTON
It will be several years before glyphosate tolerant alfalfa comes into commercial use in Canada, predicts a spokesman with the company that developed the technology.
Mike McGuire, a director with Monsanto Canada, said although Roundup Ready alfalfa was deregulated in the United States last week, there are no immediate plans for its commercialization in Canada.
“First off, they’re going to be pretty focused on getting things up and running in the U.S.,” said McGuire of Forage Genetics International, the company that’s commercializing the technology and the one that would decide on whether to market it to Canadian producers.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s plant biosafety office approved the technology as safe for food, feed and environment in 2005. McGuire said, however, performance testing would have to take place and without a plan for commercialization here, the earliest testing could begin would be 2012. “There’s no magic moment,” he said. Testing could take a few years.
Sean McGivern, a board member with the National Farmers Union, said his organization is concerned about the introduction of glyphosate tolerant alfalfa to Canada: “There's a lot of seed growers, especially in western Canada, who are worried about contamination.” He explained that Canadian forage products are sold globally where many markets, especially in Europe and the Middle East, prohibit genetically modified agriculture products. The potential for cross-contamination between glyphosate tolerant and traditional alfalfa varieties could negatively affect these export marketing opportunities.
“We could lose those European markets if we follow the United States on this.”
That's why, he said, the union backs bill C-474. If passed it would amend the federal Seeds Regulations Act to require genetically modified seeds to undergo an export-market assessment before being registered in Canada.
The bill comes up for third reading in the House of Commons next week and was introduced by NDP Agriculture Critic Alex Atamanenko.
Grain Farmers of Ontario is among the farm groups that have opposed the bill, arguing that it creates more red tape, reduces the science-based components of the approval process and puts Canadian growers at a competitive disadvantage.
Patty Townsend, Vice-President of the Canadian Seed Trade Association said they are also opposed and noted decisions of a regulatory nature should be based on verifiable scientific examination and not market analysis.
To evaluate a new engineered variety, analysts “would have to go to all the markets,” she pointed out. “The bill doesn't define what markets (but) it says you have to find out if 'they' would accept it before it can be approved in the regulatory system for sale.”
McGivern said it's unlikely the bill will pass into law.
During a meeting with the federal liberal agriculture caucus last week agriculture critic Wayne Easter told them that the liberal vote would go against the bill, McGivern said. BF
Comments
Testing in Canada will take several years. Wow, I mean is Canadian alfalfa and American alfalfa so different that a whole new set of trials have to be conducted so it can be approved for Canadian farmers?
The Canadian market for crop protection products on a global scale is tiny. We must be very careful that we don't make the whole process too onerous for various companies, as there could be a time when a company says, "you know what, the Canadian market is inconsequential, let's not bother with this product."
Time and again the Canadian farmer is at a competitive disadvantage -both with crop protection products and fertilizer products. Sigh.
Signed by: a disappointed, but not surprised farmer
Once the Dumb USA contaminates its entire alfalfa crop with RR/GM alfalfa, the market for "organic/non-contaminated pure" alfalfa from Canada will SKYROCKET!
Americans will be clamoring overthemselves to get healthy NON-GMO feed for their organic beef/dairy industry and Canadians will be thankful they never followed their stupid US counterparts on GM alfalfa - just like Canada never followed with toxic rBGH hormone for milk.
I'm not sure I understand your point "surprised farmer." My wife and I farm in BC and are horrified by the prospect of GM alfalfa contamination. Not only would it threaten the integrity of our operation, we could also be sued for patent infringement. How many more Percy Schmiesers does this country need? We have everything to lose by introducing GM alfalfa here. The long-term safety studies are nonexistent. Monsanto made similar promises regarding increased yields (i.e. RR soy, Bt cotton) that have not come true. Countries who refuse to import GMO foods are doing the world a great service. Farmers would be wise to boycott Monsanto before the company 'owns' the entire food chain.
Why in the world would any farmer support the introduction of a plant or animal that would eliminate his available markets or the available markets of other farmers?
Bill C474 makes us step back from the pressures of the big multi-nationals and take a few months to examine the irreversible long term consequences of introducing GMO crops or animals on Canadian soil. GMO crops are being banned in one country after the other; the writing is on the wall.
David Avery,
a B.C. farmer
Editor's note: Post will be published when signed.
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