In the context of the current scnadal over Austrlalian non-GM canola being GM contaminated, note the telling Bayer quote below (item 3) which claims some level of GM contamination is now "a reality in agricultural production systems around the world".
Why might they be happy to admit that?
Remember the comment of the vice-president of the international consulting firm whose client list included not only the likes of ConAgra and Unilever but Aventis - the company whose crop science business, including its GM canola, was taken over by Bayer?
"The hope of the industry is that over time the market is so flooded that there's nothing you can do about it." - Don Westfall, Promar International, January 2001
A year later in April 2002, Dale Adolphe, former head of the Canola Council of Canada and executive director of the Canadian Seed Growers Association, told Canadian canola growers at their annual meeting that despite growing public opposition to genetically engineered crops around the globe, there was hope:
"It's a hell of a thing to say that the way we win is don't give the consumer a choice, but that might be it."
http://www.tompaine.com/feature.cfm/ID/6157
If you want a choice, the implications are clear - we have to fight right around the globe to stop this technology.
1.Australian GE canola contamination found in Japan
2.GE canola contamination found in Australia
3.Australian GE canola contamination found in Japan
excerpts:
"Opponents say the contamination could have severe consequences for exporters, while Labor says the incident raises serious doubts about the Government's management of the quarantine system." (item 1)
"Only Japanese insistence on testing the Victorian canola shipment for foreign genes brought this contamination to light. Japan was alerted to the need for testing by repeated GE contamination of their food and environment with unapproved canola and corn varieties from overseas." (item 2)
"Bayer's statement that, 'trace levels of GM material is a reality in agricultural production systems around the world', is an admission that they and other GE companies cannot prevent GE from contaminating normal food crops." (item 3)
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1.Australian GE canola contamination found in Japan
14 July 05, The Advertiser (shortened)
http://www.non-gm-farmers.com/news_details.asp?ID=2277
AUTHORITIES have confirmed the first known contamination of a food crop with genetically modified material in Australia.
The Federal Government has rushed to assure the public about the safety of the canola and the integrity of current moratoria on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food crops.
Opponents say the contamination could have severe consequences for exporters, while Labor says the incident raises serious doubts about the Government's management of the quarantine system.
The GM material was found during routine testing by the Australian Barley Board (ABB) of an export consignment of Victorian canola seeds that was bound for Japan.
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2.GE canola contamination found in Australia
GeneEthics Network, July 15, 2005
http://www.non-gm-farmers.com/news_details.asp?ID=2280
Bayer, the Office of Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR), ABB Grain Ltd and the Victorian Government all confirm that an unlicensed variety of genetically engineered (GE) canola - Bayer's Topas 19/2 - was found in a canola shipment to Japan. A small plot of Topas 19/2 was planted in Victoria in 1998, but conventional seed imported for a breeding program may be the source of contamination.
"Only Japanese insistence on testing the Victorian canola shipment for foreign genes brought this contamination to light," says GeneEthics Network Director Bob Phelps.
"Japan was alerted to the need for testing by repeated GE contamination of their food and environment with unapproved canola and corn varieties from overseas," he says.
"Much experience shows that GE pollutes conventional food crops, even where GE varieties are not commercially grown," he says.
"How widely the GE contaminated seed may have spread in Australia is unknown and it could now be everywhere," he says.
"So every paddock and shipping container of oilseeds and grains must be tested, and any contaminated product destroyed," he says.
"Zero detectable GE contmaination must be our standard," he says.
"Australian food exports worth billions of dollars are at risk of temporary or even permanent cancellation," says Mr Phelps.
"Australia's GE-free status is a great marketing advantage over most other food exporting countries, so a nation-wide GE cleanup is now urgently needed to restore Asian, Middle Eastern and European buyer confidence in the GE-free status of our products," he says.
"This contamination scandal shows that Australia's regulatory systems have failed and need a total overhaul," he says.
"We recommended for years that Biosecurity Australia should test all seed so that gene contamination was prevented, and this must begin now," he says.
"State government bans on commercial GE food crops should get real teeth, by including all field trials in the bans and making them permanent," he says.
"The current review of Australia's Gene Technology Act is an ideal opportunity to make the OGTR system more robust, precautionary and answerable to the public," he says.
"The review panel ought to convene public hearings on the present laws all around the country, so everyone can have a say," Mr Phelps concludes.
More comment: Bob Phelps 03 9347 4500 (O) 03 9889 1717 (H)
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3.Australian GE canola contamination found in Japan
GREENPEACE MEDIA RELEASE, July 14 2005
http://www.non-gm-farmers.com/news_details.asp?ID=2276
Bayer CropScience has confirmed that genetically engineered (GE) material have been found in a consignment of Victorian canola exported to Japan.
"If we ever needed evidence that even small scale plantings of GE are dangerous to our export markets, this is it," said Greenpeace GE campaigner Jeremy Tager. "Our reputation as a GE free country is seriously at risk because Bayer can't control it's GE organisms or prevent contamination"
Bayer's statement that, "trace levels of GM material is a reality in agricultural production systems around the world", is an admission that they and other GE companies cannot prevent GE from contaminating normal food crops.
This argument has never been accepted in Australia, by farmers or by state governments which is why all major canola growing states have put a ban on the commercial growing GE canola.
This GE contamination incident coincides with a Federal Review of Australia’s Gene Technology Act (submissions to the Review close tomorrow, Friday July 15.)
"This scandal shows how our GE regulatory system is failing. GE contamination is out of control, and the system needs a total overhaul, not just a review," said Tager. "All GE crop trials in Australia should immediately stop."
Contacts:
Greenpeace GE Campaigner Jeremy Tager 0438 679 263 (07) 3892 7538
Greenpeace Media Officer Carolin Wenzel (02) 9263 0358 0417 668 957
Carolin Wenzel, Greenpeace Communications Officer
Ph: (02) 9263 0358 Mo: 0417 668 957
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