Background - October 28, 2004
Europe is the centre of diversity of oilseed rape/canola; the plant was introduced onto the North American continent only recently. Today China, India, Europe and Canada are the largest producers. Most people are familiar with canola oil used in cooking, margarine and other spreads. However, canola is also used in many other foods, including bread, cakes, chocolate and confectionery.
Canola carrying yellow flowers in Northern Germany.
There are eleven GE canola varieties commercially available in
the US and fourteen in Canada. Most are engineered to be resistant
to a specific company's own brand of herbicide. These include four
varieties of Monsanto's Roundup Ready glyphosate tolerant rape,
three varieties of Bayer's LibertyLink glufosinate-tolerant rape,
five varieties of Bayer's InVigor-tolerant rape, one Rhone-Poulenc
bromoxynil-tolerant rape and a Monsanto lauric acid-producing
rape.
Like other genetically engineered crops, GE canola poses
long-term risks to the environment. There are also more immediate
risks, like cross contamination, the creation of herbicide
resistant weeds and increased use of damaging herbicides.
Scientists have already discovered canola "superweeds."
Volunteer canola plants, resistant to three different herbicides,
are now found along roadsides in western Canada. More toxic
chemicals must now be used to control the new weeds.
Natural biodiversity is being placed at risk by gene flow from
GE canola to wild relatives; as with the herbicide-tolerant canola
found in Canada, new weeds can be created when wild relatives
receive novel genes that allow them a competitive advantage.
Despite the problems with the crop in Canada and the crop's
rejection in certain European countries biotech giants moved their
focus to Australia. However, because of widespread farmer
opposition, biotech giant Monsanto announced in May 2004 that had
shelved plans to introduce GE canola in Australia.
The death of the program is a very clear message to the separate
Bayer GE canola program in Australia that this technology is
embraced by neither markets or by consumers.
In-Depth:
Genetic Pollution - A multiplying nightmare
GE
oilseed rape - Out of control in Canada