Flax?

[Zaphod]

I realize the customer ultimately decides, but there is no evidence that the Europeans are smarter consumers, just pickier.

One rumour I heard was that some of this flax was being grown in the US, where it wasn't illegal and then it came back into Canada.

[charliep]

Before anyone gets too excited, we should likely wait for the facts. With traceability and sampling in the elevator system, they will become apparent.

If the marker gene is present, the next step will be a process review in Canada.

Will highlight there are 3 to 4 mills in Europe that depend on Canadian flaxseed to meet their linoil (paint and linoleum). Virtually no flaxseed grown in Europe (especially since the EU system quit paying farmers in places like the England to grow it) so they will be shut down.

There is no comment on the safety of the flaxseed - only the flaxseed that contains this gene marker has not been approved for import into Europe. The EU imports millions of tonnes of genetically engineered corn and soybeans that have been subjected to the EU regulatory process and have been approved.

For those that are worried about supply chain effects, perhaps should noted the level of sophistication and level of testing. Suspect the sample was in a 5,000 tonne hold of a ship. Perhaps a word of warning for anyone contemplating breaking the rules around use of chemicals because well, its only a little and will be hidden as my load is blended (melathion in canola bins).

[parsley]

<p></p>
<p class="EC_style8ptBK"><strong>[URL="http://parsleysnotebook.blogspot.com/"](CGC regulates flax)[/URL]</strong></p>

[parsley]

charlie, I do get excited, because unfortunately, farmers pick up that tab for future sales, and for lost reputation.

Farmers pick up the tab.....again. Pars

[charliep]

Again, before anyone gets excited we need the facts.

Is the problem real? Was the issue an US flax delivered to a Canadian elevator? Was it a Canadian farmer (individual or group)? Was it a second berth in Duluth to pick up US flax after loading in Thunder Bay?

From there, why is it a government/CGC issue? The variety was de-listed. The EU is enforcing there rules around ensuring strict compliance to their GE approval process (more than flax caught).

If you want government involved, my solution is genetic testing of all samples with the costs and impact on timing of sales picked up by the supply chain (you will tell me the farmer). There would be no exceptions. But you say it is not farmers fault this variety was released. The answer then is to tighten up the CFIA/Health Canada rules around varietal development and approval even more than today (plants with novel traits).

So Canadian farmers live in a world of more regulation around developing and releasing new varieties and higher costs (detection and traceability) versus competitors?

Perhaps the real solution is to work towards international processes that indicate how biotech can be used that are accepted and adhered to by the major crop producing and consuming regions.

[parsley]

[parsley]

"Barry Hall, president of the Flax Council of Canada, confirmed that European labs have been testing Canadian flaxseed and initial analytical results indicate the presence of NPTH, a genetic marker, in some samples" UNQUOTE


Uh, you think he's talking out his ear, do you?

[craig]

I don't understand. So approved GMO is fine but unapproved is not. They have been accepting thousands of tonnes of South American GMO soybeans for years and now their excited about flax which for most purposes is an industrial product for paint and lino. It's great that we're enjoying all the benefits of GMO flax such as improved yield and better weed control. Would seem in today's world non tariff trade bariers are part of the business of restricting trade and driving prices down. Good old Canada just takes in on the chin and tries to absorp the additional risks. Glad we have such good margins to work with.

[parsley]

I thought there would be a show of concern about the obvious lack of responsibility by the guardians of the GMO flax variety, targetted soley for one use.

Not even a "whoops."

Is it that anything at all goes? Anything will be acceptable? With no concern let alone one word of censure?

A little like the kid who stole cigarettes and then is indignant because he didn't get to smoke them all. The stealing didn't bother him.

What about our basic responsibility as farmers, for ALL FOOD WE GROW AND PRODUCE? To sell what we say we sell? Or is that concept a little too old fashioned and needs modifying too?

If so, stock up on some melamine.

If we as farmers do not show concern about food, and how we handle it, and grow it, the trust we have built over the years throughout the world, and is an asset to us, will disappear.

Pars

[charliep]

I will note that flax is mainly an industrial product used in paint and linoleum (plus other uses of linoil). I find it interesting that a human food user of flax went to the same pile (and paid a commodity price) for something that would enter the food chain. The result in the European supply chain is that crushing plants that rely on flax for use in an industrial product (linoil) will be denied supplies for their business commitments within. Put another way, Canada is the major exporter but Europe only has one source of supply. There will be pain in the industry there because they are denied access to their needed supplies.

Perhaps an unexpected good outcome of this process is that Canada will crush flax for the linoil market and value add here.

Given the level of sophistication of testing, every sector of the agricultural industry will get caught off side for some infraction of a regional rule at some point including the organic industry. Hopefully we all have the patience as a Canadian industry to seek the facts before we (being members of the industry) put the knives in each others backs - Lord knows our competitors will do it anyway.