[MedicalConspiracies] GM Wheat rejected by 233 Consumer, Farmer Groups in 26 Countries

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2010/09/c8060.html
GM Wheat rejected by 233 Consumer, Farmer Groups in 26 Countries

OTTAWA, MONTREAL, WASHINGTON, TOKYO and SYDNEY, Feb. 9 /CNW/ - 233
consumer and farmer groups in 26 countries have joined the
"Definitive Global Rejection of GM Wheat" statement to stop the
commercialization of genetically modified (GM) wheat and remind the
biotechnology corporation Monsanto that genetically modifying this
major crop is not acceptable to farmers or consumers. (1)

The 233 groups signed the rejection statement first launched by 15
Australian, Canadian and U.S. farmer and consumer groups in June 2009.

"Canadian farmers have just lost their export sales to Europe and
other markets because of GM flax contamination from a GM variety
deregistered a decade ago and never even sold. Our current experience
with GM flax contamination clearly illustrates the crippling losses
Canadian farmers will suffer if GM wheat is introduced," said Terry
Boehm, a flax and wheat farmer and President of the National Farmers
Union in Canada. "Flax is yet another warning that once a GM crop is
introduced, contamination is inevitable."

In July 2009, Monsanto announced new research into GM wheat and
industry groups kicked their promotion of GM wheat into high gear.
"Widespread farmer and consumer resistance defeated GM wheat in 2004
and this global rejection remains strong, as demonstrated by today's
statement," said Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator of the Canadian
Biotechnology Action Network.

"In 2004, a coalition of Japanese consumer and food industry groups
delivered a petition to the Governments of Canada and the U.S. urging
them not to introduce GM wheat. Today, consumer rejection of GM wheat
in Japan is just as strong as ever. 80 organizations in Japan have
already signed the rejection statement," said Keisuke Amagasa of the
Tokyo-based No! GMO Campaign. "A large majority of consumers here in
Japan are voicing their strong opposition to the cultivation of GM
wheat. We see strong opposition from all sectors of society."

Japan's flour companies are also rejecting GM wheat, echoing consumer
opposition. In a statement released today, the Flour Miller's
Association of Japan wrote to the No! GMO Campaign indicating its
opposition.

"Under the present circumstances, with all the doubts about safety
and the environment that the consumers in Japan have, including the
effect on the human body from GM foods, GM wheat is included among
the items that are not acceptable for the Japanese market," Kadota
Masaaki, senior managing director of the Flour Miller's Association
wrote to the No! GMO Campaign.

In the U.S., a recent report from the Western Organization of
Resource Councils, a network of seven community farmer, rancher and
consumer organizations, shows that U.S. wheat prices could fall by 40
percent or more if industry efforts to develop GM wheat succeed. (2)

"U.S. family farmers will do everything to protect our wheat from
Monsanto and we do not accept that any corporation has the right to
patents on life, including seeds," said Dena Hoff from the National
Family Farm Coalition in the U.S. "GM wheat would contaminate our
crops and food supply, and put an end to organic grain production.
Farmers in the U.S. have already rejected GM wheat and Monsanto is
sorely mistaken if they think farmers will ever accept GM wheat."

"The big push is on from Monsanto to pave the way for GM wheat but
the reality is that strong and widespread opposition from farmers and
consumers in Australia and across the world is here to stay," said
Laura Kelly from Greenpeace Australia Pacific.

(1) The list of signatories to the "Definitive Global Rejection of
Genetically Modified Wheat" statement can be viewed at http://
www.cban.ca/globalstopGMwheat

(2) "A Review of the Potential Market Impacts of Commercializing GM
Wheat in the U.S." January 2010, Western Organization of Resource
Councils, http://www.worc.org/GM-Wheat

For further information: In Canada: Terry Boehm, National Farmers
Union Canada, (in Paris) 33 144 84 7250; Lucy Sharratt, Canadian
Biotechnology Action Network, (613) 241-2267 ext. 6, info@cban.ca; In
Tokyo: Michiyo Koketsu, NO! GMO Campaign, 81 3 5155 4756, office@gmo-
iranai.org; Ryoko Shimizu, Policy Research Institute for the Civil
Sector, 81 90 6001 0495, ryoko-s@prics.net; In the US: Kathy Ozer,
National Family Farm Coalition, (202) 543-5675; In Australia: Laura
Kelly, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, (61) 040741 4572