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 Monsanto’s 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.
“It’s 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 customers’ concern 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, Monsanto’s 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 Monsanto’s
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 aren’t 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 Montana’s major customers.” Johannesen confirmed
that segregation of the genetically modified wheat from the rest
of the wheat stream will not take place. "We’ve 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 it’s about time we hold responsible
the companies developing products, which ruin our market."
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