GMO Wheat

[wmoebis]

RR is a non registered variety and all
non registered varieties are included in
declaration so YES it is included.

I can visually assess my grain for KVD
for classes and possibly for variety,
that is the reasoning behind KDV,
however I don't know if RR gene variety
is distinguishable or not.

My point is that the declaration we
sign should be releasing us from that
responsibility not forcing us to assume
it on behalf of the gov't and Monsanto.
If I have mixed classes I will declare
it but if I end up with something that
is not suppose to be there or I am
unaware of, Not a Chance should we as
producers be liable.

The diff is gov't and Monsanto or
anyone, can say it is not here but we as
producers have to guarantee it and
accept financial responsibility if it
happens to show up. Just like Triffid
flax.

So my question is do we just sit and
wait and see if it does or doesn't show
up or will the gov't do the right thing
and release producers in case it does?

[charliep]

So we live in a world where only big/well funded companies like Monsanto can take on the risk of bringing new technologies forward?

A good consequence of this event may be more discussion around liability but also world agreement on how new breeding technnologies can be brought forward and recieve general international approval for distribution even at low level presence. If you companies to invest in your industry, then it is imperative they have clear rules so they can assess risk and make good business decisions.

[parsley]

Clear contamination rules are necessary if they
are able to affect, or do affect, organic producers,
too. If you own the dog, you are responsible for
the dog bites. Sounds fair to me.

[charliep]

You may be right. Your first step in this process would be to demonstrate damage. Tod date, the only incidence of an unregistered RR wheat is Oregon. Futures markets have maintained their trading range ahead of the news.

Here is an article that adds more perspective to what has/is happening.

[URL="http://www.capitalpress.com/orewash/ML-GE-wheat-interview-Update-060313"]Capital Express[/URL]

[oneoff]

It exactly the same as conflicts of interest. Real conflicts of interest are no more important than what could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest. Each is equally serious.

When the market is always "right"; it matters diddly-squat whether it an admitted GMO escape; or whether it just walks like a duck and talks a ducks language. Do you see the point charlie?.

It will turn into both an example of an unsatisfactorily controlled GMO experiment; and market access restrictions at every available turn. And testing miniscule amounts boils down to the saying "with sensitive enough tests, you can find a little bit of anything in anything".

Your repeated suggestions to get on the testing bandwagon should be downright offensive to farmers. On this Oregon tpye event; it all belongs to Monsanto. Every test and every reduced paycheck should be sent directly to the unregistered variety owner; that in ordinary circumstances they would be blaming someone else.

Let Monsanto foot each and every bill associated with their mistakes and their property.

[oneoff]

It is very helpful to understand "odds are slim that cross-pollination of wheat entered the field".

The odds are also very slim of winning a large lottery. But anouncedthat you hold that long shot winner; you should conclude that you have a 100% chance of winning the jackpot. Time to worry about poor odds should not enter your thought process.

And so it is with reported GMO escapes. Once its out; it probably one of the many traces that will never be able to be completely eradicated. At best there can be low levels (but never likely low enough for "zero tolerance". At worst, without dedicated ongoing scrutiny; it will spread and expand with every favorable selection opportunity.

[charliep]

Sounds like you have the beginnings of a court casee for the Oregon farmers who produce soft white wheat. Other US wheat classes and Canadian wheat farmers have not been impacted to date although there are likely to be increased requests for testing at the cargo level. My converstation with CGC and industry indicates those requests have not occurred yet in Canada.

Your comments on probability is perspective. My retirement plan is based on winning the lottery. Is this a good strategy based on the odds?

It should also be a question of severity which comes to a question as to whether in fact the potential presence of the RR gene in wheat is human health issue. Your comment on the triffid issue from the past was that it was in fact a market access issue and not a human health threat. Am I misquoting you?

[charliep]

Perhaps my learning from Triffid and the current wheat is the need to get a new genetic event registered in all markets including South East Asia and Europe early on in the release process. This is even if the particular varieties are not allowed into some countries, there is at recognition of the approval process in the countries bringing the technology forward and allowances for adventious presence at small level even if very small (0.01 %).

[oneoff]

I don't think BSE, Triffid or GMO contamination in wheat varieties or even planning retirements based on lottery winnings are trivial issues.


Polls show that over a third of Canadians expect to retire based on their expectations of winning lotteries. If that is not irrational, then should anyone have any serious expectation that any of those voters; consumers or human beings be taken seriously on their other beliefs and opinions.

When you are young and feel invinsible; you may well think that wreckless and dangerous behavior causes no lasting effects. That may well be because it takes an additional 20 to 30 years of cell divisions and effects of declining functions due to natural aging. But frequently; the side effects and wounds do appear to eventually manifest themelves, because indeed our bodies didn't completely return back to normal. Maybe you pay for prior behavior; and maybe it doesn't make any difference. But on average; 30 years later there are some regrets and quuestions of difference another choice would have made.

For instance; refined sugar is being consumed in massive amounts. The effects on young people are obvious in their abnormal body weights compared to previous generations. Can that be healthy....the answer being pretty obvious. I predict that the parents and their children might well become resident in retirement homes at about the same time periods.

Similarly, can it be smart to continue to buy increasing numbers of lottery tickets to improve your chances of retiring comfortably? I would say no; and I suspect charlie agrees, but education about the false expectations is apparently just not getting through to those wasting their money.

And trying to pin someone down to stating that there is no heath issue in eating 100% Triffid flax is not a valid question. I much prefer to look at issues from the big picture perspective; but since you insist on a personal view; here it is.
I eat my own flax every morning. It came from saved seed that has had some three mandatory Triffid samples that all came back negative (so far). Seeing as how dry flax keeps so well; a bushel or two will easily last a lifetime. In a few thousand acres of commercial production over the years; there may indeed have been some Triffid plants grown without my knowledge. That was someone else's fault if it happened. Other than possibly contributing through checkoff funds to projects I had no control over; someone else made the decisions without my consent. If there are health issues with Triffid or GMO in other seed stocks; then I put the accountability and responsibility on the shoulders of those who made the decision to proceed. But all that could reasonably been done to avoid Triffid consumption has been done; and nothing is to be gained by worrying further. A teaspoon of ground flax is most likely to be much more beneficial than overall harmful. And it didn't need to have any possibility of Triffid contamination...did it? And I would ever ask; or try to trick those who even think they are someone's enemy to eat something I would avoid if given priveledged knowledge or a choice.

But I will resist being held responsible though tests and affidavits required to attempt to contain someone elses mistakes...

and I will refrain from even thinking about directly confronting someone such as Monsanto that would win by their deep pockets and time on the side of corporations that never die.

But what must truly scare those corporations; and their supporters and enablers (politicians, brown-nosers who may be well paid or just mere pawns etc)) is that they can't control the concerns that circulate as ligitimate questions or malicious gossip.

They deseve that treatment.

[charliep]

A day in court may be the result of this incidence.

[URL="http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Markets/Meter-is-running-on-damages-from-Oregon-GMO-tainting-event-attorney-says/?utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_ campaign=Newsletter%2BDaily&c=jYz%2BwZTNAeX4NFFpX4 DJTA%3D%3D"]Food-Navigator-USA[/URL]