Is the mustard market drop because of EU GM issues?

[charliep]

Parsley

I will note mustard goes to more markets than Europe. Brown - mainly Europe. Oriental - Asia. Yellow - North America.

I also think we need a better understanding of what is causing the problem, a way of dealing with it and a communication strategy. I think this is what Larry is getting at.

[charliep]

Just wondering if anyone is aware of any biotech research on mustard (or more specifically transgenic research)? All the way plant breeder, approval process or commercialization? I know there is work on developing mustards with canola characturistics for brown soil zones.

Has anyone seen any research on cross polinization mustard and canola? In your experience, are you seeing mustard plants that are tolerant round up?

[parsley]

I referenced a bit on my blog charliep

[FifthColumn]

Good release today from the SK Mustard Development Commission. Good approach to reassuring customers and the trade.

http://www.saskmustard.ca/grower/media/Oct-7-09_EuropeanMarketsRemainOpentoCanadianMustard.pdf

[charliep]

For what it is worth, here is the EU guidelines on the presense of "adventitious" registered GMO crops.

Quote - All foods and feed produced from GMOs, including products that no longer contain detectable traces of GMOs must be labeled. The allowable adventitious presence level for EU-approved varieties of GMOs for use in food and feed, is set at 0.9 percent. Above this level, all products must be labeled. Operators must demonstrate that the presence of GM material was adventitious or technically unavoidable. The provision that allowed an adventitious presence level of 0.5 percent for GM varieties, which are not yet formally approved but which have received a positive EU risk assessment, expired in April 2007.


[URL="http://useu.usmission.gov/agri/GMOs.html"]labeling[/URL]

[parsley]

Calling people who buy Dijon mustard "irrational" is a good tactic?

Remember when coke changed their formula?

The strategy,though was that Canadian farmers are the last to be informed that mustard being recalled from shelves in the EU?

How many have a jar of Dijon in your fridge?

How many farmers were informed that mustard was being pulled from EU shelves?

I'll bet the trade and all bureaucrats knew and didn't bother to tell you.

Nobody looks at it from the farmers point of view:

Why clean your flax first, if there is a silent embargo? Plan to clean the beans first.

You see, farmers have some priorities, too. Pars

[parsley]

charliep,

The .0001 and the .0000000000079 and the .00345 designation, revised and new ones added daily, is a regulator's dream for expanding a department.

[FifthColumn]

Parsley -- on your blog you ask the question "Do EU Consumers Want to Buy GM Mustard?" On an earlier thread you ask "Did you ever ask the people who make the mustard if they want to buy GM mustard?"

Do you realize that comments like this leave the false impression that mustard in Canada has been genetically-modified and further, that there would be some sort of health risk even if it were true?

Yes, there will be traces of EU-approved GM canola in mustard shipments to Europe, but no doubt that's been the case for more than a decade. Why are you needlessly raising alarm bells now by implying our mustard shipments contain unapproved GM mustard seed?

Does it not occur to you that misleading comments like yours are what fuels the hysteria that in turn causes stores in the EU to pull product from their shelves? How are your comments helpful to Canadian farmers, and in particular, Canadian mustard producers?

[furrowtickler]

I agree Pars, you are sending a very bad massage accross the net. Good for you for being organic, but do not dare ruin our market with B.S. like that. It is not and never will be G.M. Mustard. And further more, if or when there is concreate evidence of any G.M. traces found in anything you'd be best to keep the peace with those around you. Champion what you have and keep your nose out of business you know little of.
Go ahead and make fun of my spelling, but I hope you get the point loud and clear lady!

[parsley]

I was previously questioned on this site about consumers. What do I know about consumers? How do farmers determine what consumers in a lucrative market want? How do we find out? How did I know what consumers like or did not like?
So rather than me say what I "felt", I posted what the Swiss legislated.

Swiss population stated very definitely what they wanted. Read it.

That is my point. They legislated what they wanted and I posted it on my blog.

Pars

[parsley]

I also emailed Kevin Hursh and he emailed back and said:

"Contrary to comments posted with your blog, there are no GM mustard crops."
---------------------------------------
But I had read there were field trials done in Canada. Organic farmers sometimes clean snd buy seed from seed growers. That is what they do....grow seed. But what if there is contamination? Read the reports I read and sent to Kevin:
_____________________________________

GM releases of Major Agricultural GM Crops

Field Tests

http://www.gm-inspectorate.gov.uk/documents/ANON-GM_crops_routine_surveillence_Oct-Dec_05_final.pdf



Page 7


I realize there is no commercial status. Also read:

http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/database/plants/66.mustard.html that they don't know what they are talking about either.


Seems there has been GM Mustard activity in Canada. Right?

Now, considering what happened to flax, would you agree there are legitimate concerns by farmers? There is GM testing in canada.

Product has been pulled off the shelves. Yes.

That's a worry for organics as well.

As farmers, do you want to know or do you want to pretend no GM has been grown and no GM can contaminate and no
mustard has been pulled off the shelf?

Pars

By the way, Kevin Hursh later emailed me back and said:

"This is news to me. Thanks for passing this along. I'll investigate further."

[dave4441]

Greenpeace is winning this round.