North American Farmers warn Western Australians about GM crop risks

As Australian farmers prepare to plant this year’s canola crop, Western Australia is at a key juncture in deciding whether to maintain its GM free status. Recently the Western Australian Government announced that it would allow large-scale field trials of GM canola for the first time this year. However, a state moratorium on the commercial growing of GM food crops still remains in place.  

Moe Parr, a seed cleaner from Indiana, in the United States, was sued by Monsanto in 2007 for allegedly “aiding”, “abetting” and “encouraging” GM soy farmers to break the patent law by saving their own seed. Despite his innocence, Mr Parr was unable to afford the legal fees to defend himself and was forced to settle out of court. As part of the settlement, he now has to have each lot of seed he cleans tested for GM contamination and send the results to Monsanto.

Mr Parr says, “because of GM contamination and the monopoly control of seeds by multinational agribusiness companies, in the US it is nearly impossible to go back. From experience, I know that large-scale GM field trials may mark the beginning of corporate control over farming. But, if the moratorium in Western Australia remains in place, farmers will still have a choice if they want to go down the GM path.
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Monsanto has sued thousands of US farmers for patent infringement since the introduction of GM crops in the country. GM crops have also led to the widespread contamination of conventional crops in North America. In Canada 90% of non-GM certified canola seed is contaminated with GM material. (1)
 
Ross Murray, a farmer from Saskatchewan, Canada, grew GM Roundup Ready canola for some years. He found that it failed to deliver industry promises. Mr Murray says, “GM canola simply doesn't stack up- it yields no more than conventional canola and costs more to grow. It also leaves behind a volunteer weed problem. But now in Canada farmers don’t have a choice - non GM canola has been eliminated by genetic contamination
 
In last year’s Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) National Variety Trials - the only independent trials of GM canola in Australia, the best yielding GM variety consistently produced 9-10% less than the best yielding conventional variety (2).
 
Julie Newman, Western Australian canola farmer and member of the Network of Concerned Farmers says, "We are on the brink of losing our choice to grow and market GM free canola. On top of that, under the end point royalty system in Australia, Monsanto will have the right to fine non-

GM farmers for accidental GM contamination. This will deal a double blow to conventional canola farmers."
 
A number of states in the US have introduced laws to protect farmers. Last September the state of California passed legislation protecting farmers from being sued by large agri-business corporations like Monsanto for accidental GM contamination.
 
Concerned Australian farmers are calling on the Federal and State Governments to protect non GM farmers from any economic loss caused by GM contamination by introducing strict liability legislation. Concerned farmers in Western Australia are also demanding that the state government make the locations and the results of the field trials public.
 
"Our governments must put the interest of farmers before that of multinational agri-business companies. All we are asking for is fair risk management". Ms Newman concluded.

Details of Forums:
The first forum in Western Australia is on March 6th in Esperance, followed by Albany- March 7th, Williams, March 8th, Mukinbudin- March 9th and Perth-March 10th. Full details can be found at:
http://www.truefood.org.au/newsandevents/?events=3