Canadian Government Agreed to Conduct Secret GM Wheat Field Trials

Joint press release Greenpeace / National Farmers Union

Montreal - Documents obtained by Greenpeace through the Access to Information Act reveal that Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC) agreed to conduct field trials of genetically modified wheat at three secret locations in Western Canada in 2004 on behalf of biotechnology company Syngenta. The trials were agreed to despite overwhelming market rejection of genetically modified wheat, and concerns that such wheat will escape into the broader environment. Fellow biotechnology giant Monsanto abandoned commercialization efforts for genetically modified wheat earlier this year. Syngenta is attempting to genetically modify the wheat to be fusarium resistant, while Monsanto's had been designed to be herbicide resistant.

"It doesn't matter whether genetically modified wheat is blue, purple, green or pink- consumers are not interested in buying GM food," said Eric Darier, Greenpeace Genetic Engineering Campaigner. "Given the weak testing protocols established by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), it is inevitable that continued secret testing of GM wheat will eventually lead to a contamination event."

"For farmers and our markets, GM wheat--any GM wheat--is market poison. Over 82% of our customers say that they will stop buying all Canadian wheat if we introduce GM varieties," said Stewart Wells of the National Farmers Union. "It makes no difference to our customers whether the genetic modification is to resist Roundup or fusarium."

The documents also suggest that the government may have entered into a collaboration agreement with Syngenta to develop GM wheat. A draft copy of the document states "Partnership with Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc., is very welcome."

Earlier this year, research by AAFC revealed a link between glyphosate formulations and the development of fusarium. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in many pesticides used extensively on genetically engineered crops in the Prairies.

"Farmers in parts of Canada have been devastated by fusarium, but GM varieties are not the answer," continued Mr. Wells. "If successful, GM fusarium-resistant wheat would increase supply but would decrease demand. We believe the effect on all farmers would be negative, and rather than working for Syngenta, the government should be aggressively pursuing fusarium-resistant varieties through traditional plant breeding."

"It is beyond belief that AAFC is helping to develop GM wheat after the public outcry around Monsanto's Roundup Ready wheat," continued Mr. Darier. "For a government intent on opening international markets to Canadian agriculture, little or no attention is being paid to what those markets actually want."

For more information, contact

Eric Darier, Greenpeace Genetic Engineering Campaigner, (514) 933-0021, ext. 15, Cell: (514) 605-6497

Stewart Wells, President, National Farmers Union, (306) 652-9465 Darrin

Qualman, Director of Research, National Farmers Union, (306) 652-9465