GMO Wheat

[charliep]

Will be interesting how the market responds to a rumor. Will leave the fact not a registered genetic event alone but if Oregon, a very isolated area from most of North American wheat production and a particular class of wheat (mostly soft white or white club).

If you want to pick on competitive advantage, Japan is about a 5 MMT market for wheat imports and the US supplies about 60 %. We have a different seed system and logistics system. We are well separated from most US wheat production areas with the 49 th paralell as close as things get. If the issue moves further, that would be a 3 MMT disruption to one customer (Japan). Would be an opportunity.

Don't know where this will end. Sanity will likely come to the forefront. All in response to something that will be well under 0.01 % (you make as small as you want) incidence. Natural variability in wheat over time likely has more implication let alone traditional and other non traditional wheat breeding methods. Gene mapping and understanding of function has opened up the plant breeding world.

[bucket]

There is probably round up ready wheat being grown in Canada.

You have to look at remote areas with high production potential (ie. irrigation areas) and where you never see people (ie hermit/non social people/ secretive)

Thats where to look folks.

Bit of a no brainer really.

[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.