NEW EVIDENCE PRESENTED: GLYPHOSATE HERBICIDE USE
INCREASES FUSARIUM DAMAGE IN WHEAT
DECEMBER 11, 2003
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask.—“We now have scientific research that shows an unequivocal
correlation between the use of glyphosate formulations (like Monsanto's Roundup) and
increased fusarium disease in wheat", said NFU President Stewart Wells. "This is the first
time scientists have looked at the role that glyphosate formulations might play in increasing
fusarium levels in wheat, and the results are overwhelming."
Wells was commenting after attending yesterday’s Manitoba Agronomists Conference where
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada scientist Dr. Myriam Fernandez presented the results of
her research. Fernandez and colleagues collected samples from 648 Saskatchewan wheat
fields over four years. The samples were indexed for both the incidence and severity of
fusarium. The results showed a direct correlation between applications of glyphosate and
fusarium incidence and severity. In the four-year study, glyphosate herbicides increased the
fusarium levels in wheat in all four years, even the two dry years in the study.
"This new research is immensely significant for farmers in Ontario, Manitoba, and all across
Canada. While the samples were collected in Saskatchewan fields, glyphosate herbicides
are widely used across Canada,” said Wells. This new study on wheat crops will add to a
wealth of literature on the subject of glyphosate formulations creating extra disease pressure
on other plants, such as soybeans.
“This year, the NFU has already written two letters to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
on the subject of fusarium and formulations of glyphosate, and we will be writing again in
light of this new information,” said Wells.
“The NFU will be asking the CFIA to reject Monsanto's application for its geneticallymodified
(GM) Roundup Ready wheat on the basis of the information that glyphosate
herbicides increase fusarium disease in wheat. Roundup Ready wheat forces farmers to use
more glyphosate herbicides in their cropping practises,” said Wells
Wells concluded: “In light of this new evidence, one of two things has to happen: either
CFIA must reject Monsanto’s application or Monsanto must beat them to it and voluntarily
withdraw its application. Once this application is rejected, or Monsanto withdraws, the
NFU will push for a complete overhaul of the way GM crops are evaluated and approved.
Our work on GM dairy hormones in the 1990s, on GM flax, and on GM wheat over the past
five years has shown us that Canada’s approval process is deeply flawed. GM wheat raises
clear threats of market loss, increased agronomic costs, and, now, increased disease losses.
And our approval system has revealed itself to be ill-equipped to deal with these problems.”
INCREASES FUSARIUM DAMAGE IN WHEAT
DECEMBER 11, 2003
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask.—“We now have scientific research that shows an unequivocal
correlation between the use of glyphosate formulations (like Monsanto's Roundup) and
increased fusarium disease in wheat", said NFU President Stewart Wells. "This is the first
time scientists have looked at the role that glyphosate formulations might play in increasing
fusarium levels in wheat, and the results are overwhelming."
Wells was commenting after attending yesterday’s Manitoba Agronomists Conference where
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada scientist Dr. Myriam Fernandez presented the results of
her research. Fernandez and colleagues collected samples from 648 Saskatchewan wheat
fields over four years. The samples were indexed for both the incidence and severity of
fusarium. The results showed a direct correlation between applications of glyphosate and
fusarium incidence and severity. In the four-year study, glyphosate herbicides increased the
fusarium levels in wheat in all four years, even the two dry years in the study.
"This new research is immensely significant for farmers in Ontario, Manitoba, and all across
Canada. While the samples were collected in Saskatchewan fields, glyphosate herbicides
are widely used across Canada,” said Wells. This new study on wheat crops will add to a
wealth of literature on the subject of glyphosate formulations creating extra disease pressure
on other plants, such as soybeans.
“This year, the NFU has already written two letters to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
on the subject of fusarium and formulations of glyphosate, and we will be writing again in
light of this new information,” said Wells.
“The NFU will be asking the CFIA to reject Monsanto's application for its geneticallymodified
(GM) Roundup Ready wheat on the basis of the information that glyphosate
herbicides increase fusarium disease in wheat. Roundup Ready wheat forces farmers to use
more glyphosate herbicides in their cropping practises,” said Wells
Wells concluded: “In light of this new evidence, one of two things has to happen: either
CFIA must reject Monsanto’s application or Monsanto must beat them to it and voluntarily
withdraw its application. Once this application is rejected, or Monsanto withdraws, the
NFU will push for a complete overhaul of the way GM crops are evaluated and approved.
Our work on GM dairy hormones in the 1990s, on GM flax, and on GM wheat over the past
five years has shown us that Canada’s approval process is deeply flawed. GM wheat raises
clear threats of market loss, increased agronomic costs, and, now, increased disease losses.
And our approval system has revealed itself to be ill-equipped to deal with these problems.”
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