GMO Wheat

[bucket]

Much like triffid flax, somehow an unregistered variety found the commercial grower's hand. Interesting.

[parsley]

It's not interesting. It should be a criminal act with
litigational consequences,

Instead, the apologists are already
beginning..."oh it was gonna happen anyways"

"Natural selection could have done it by now". ..
Blah blah
All crap.

It's all about money. Farmers' checkoff money.
Begging for taxpayers money. And seed
monopoly.

And no ****ing responsibility. Enjoy. Pars

[charliep]

Just curious Parsley. Do you believe we would find
the RR gene in Canadian wheat if we tested to the
level we have for Triffid? Should we test?

I always hope our customers don't read Agriville.

[charliep]

I'll add another question. What threat to human
health does this news story present?

[oneoff]

And once again

There is a little bit of anything in everything now a days. Its only a matter of a sensative enough test.

Now I'll ask you a question charlie...Shouldn't someone or some company that defends its ownership of a product...also be held fully responsible for any liability that may be associated with that valuable product. And just how did that important obvious disassociation of liablility get allowed to be hived off. Who was so "asleep".

[charliep]

Not disagreeing. I highlight however that bringing a
new genetic engineered trait to the market (someone
will correct me) costs $200 to $300 million and 10
plus years. Half this money is getting regulatory
approval in al the different markets including Europe.
Not going the full way exposes a company to liability
down the road and puts markets at risk. Not that
these processes should be short circuited but it limits
the companies who can bring new plant breeding
technology forward.

I highlight that the Roundup Ready technology and
other herbicide tolerance GE tools have been around
for a long time in corn, canola and soybeans. It is old
technology (close to 20 years now). Today the
discussion should be whether this technology is
needed in current wheat farming practices. Better
understanding of genetics and genetic mapping will
allow new variety development in shorter time
periods. In Canada, all new traits in crops have to go
through an approval process around Plants With
Novel Traits. I assume US has similar legislation and
processes. I am not sure how the genie gets out of
the genetic genie gets with the seed multiplication
phase the biggest risk period.

Not sure how wide you feel the presense of the RR
gene in Canadian wheat. It can be tested for if that is
what is wanted. Alfalfa should perhaps be a bigger
point of discussion.

[parsley]

You do realize, charliep, that you are presenting
inference-arguments and conclusional-arguments
that the rules in existence, should be disregarded
because 'we're doing or going to be doing it
anyways' ; that safeguards have no commercial
value for the nventors and they are the most
Important consideration; that illegally sneaking a
product on the market causes no visible harm;
that violations are indeed acceptable; and that
any responsibility does not and should not lie
with owners, but with societal dupes.

A defense for rule-breakers is in the talking
points. The same argument will be made for
pharma; the drugs and medicines tucked into our
food. The gene prescription that carries a
signature of ownership but no insurance.

Regulations and regulatory issues applying to
especially health,should not only be measured, and respected, and followed to the letter by
everyone, including bureaucrats, but also be
defended as in the interest of all of us.

The gossipline in agriculture on the Prairies is
about as effective at hiding the names of the
Triffid cheaters as hiding the names of the
growers of Roundup Ready wheat already being
harvested. With no legal duty of care.

Decency is officially dead and buried in some
fields.

I've replied, not a pleasant chore this morning,
and will continue painting walls. The colors are
true. Parsley

[oneoff]

So who then was asleep....and who allowed those liabilitiies to be hived off?
Any answers?

Maybe don't need more questions just now.

[charliep]

If the rules haven't been followed, then there will be
law suits. In Canada, the rules are well defined under
CFIA rules around plants with novel traits release
protocols.

If you disagree with the current approval process, you
need to work with government to change the process.
The federal NDP did put forward proposed legislation
that would have added market acceptance to the
criteria versus strictly science.

Given the separate varietal systems, seed distribution
and grain handling systems in the US and Canada,
there is almost no chance of this event occurring in
no Canada. Customers could require this step which
is what you both seem to support.

This is not a human health issue but rather a market
access one. It is also a hill to stand on for anyone
opposed to genetic engineering. I follow plant
breeding a bit and this is old technology that will
used because its there/can be taken off the shelf but
the next real advances will come from other non
traditional plant breeding technics.

[charliep]

Not your question but the costs of bringing new seed
technology to market are humungus and the return
potential in Canada minimal. This is a situation that
has to change if Canada wants investment in wheat
breeding. One of the aspects that companies want is
clarity of rules and at least some protection from
frivolous law suits. All countries including your gold
standard Europe have this with additional comments
there protection around plant breeder rights
including compensation for investment much clearer.

Don't know how a genetic trait that hadn't completed
the approval process got out of the genie bottle. I
suspect that is what the investigation will determine.
There may be law suits in the US based on their
processes. This genetic event has not been found in
Canada to my knowledge (maybe you have other
evidence) so not our issue at this point and a way to
increase market share although we do not grow a lot
of soft white wheat (class that was impacted).
Australia will benefit the most.

[TOM4CWB]

Dear Charlie,

The 'rules' are NOT being followed.

How did Triffid get into the breeder seed of all the
varieties at CDC Saskatoon? That 'should' not have
been possible. This fiasco cost our farm at least
$100K... and who had to pay? We the growers.

How do you sue with no proof who did what?

Not worth the energy or lost sleep... and the CDN
establishments know growers are too easy going and
big hearted to do anything about this travesty.

Not going to say anything about the RR wheat... all
that will do is cost us $$$Billions!

Cheers!

[charliep]

Perhaps the question then. Do you believe we have
the glyphosate tolerant gene in western Canadian
wheat? Should we be testing for it or more important
should our customers be asking for it? I note that
most farmers use this herbicide. Are glyphosate
tolerant volunteer or otherwise wheats showing up in
fields - your everyday test you do as farmer. This is
how the event was discovered in Oregon.