Manitoba Co-operator | November 4, 1999 | Laura Rance
Craig Evans, general manager of biotechnology for Monsanto Canada Inc. was cited as saying that Canadian Wheat Board concerns that new transgenic wheat varieties have marketplace acceptance before they are registered are understandable, adding, "It's not surprising, given the importance of wheat to the Canadian economy, given that we are an export country. Our commitment is to have the dialogue and find the common ground between the stakeholders in the industry. We've got to balance the needs of all the stakeholders in the value chain. Clearly if there isn't a market for something, then, from a business standpoint, it just wouldn't make sense to bring it forward. I'm not sure it's either/or as much as it is finding common ground in this thing."
Canadian Wheat Board president Greg Arason told senior grain industry executives at a special briefing session late last month that the board opposes the registration of transgenic varieties until they can either be segregated from the handling system or they have full marketplace acceptance. A text of his remarks was later listed on the CWB's web site.
"In our view, no transgenic varieties should be registered for commercial production in Canada until either they have achieved full commercial acceptance in all of their potential markets or until we have cost-effective technologies to segregate by variety throughout the system," was how he concluded a long discussion of several issues surrounding biotechnology and the board's ability to market Prairie grains.
Earl Geddes, a market development officer with the board, was cited as saying board officials were busy last week responding to concerns from industry and the federal government that it has taken a stance opposing the introduction of biotechnology.
Geddes said the board is an enthusiastic promoter of the technology and has launched an aggressive campaign with customers to increase their awareness and understanding of the potential benefits. But he said many customers are nervous, or have customers themselves who don't want it.
The industry must accept that marketplace reality, he said. "Ours is a marketing issue, pure and simple."
Monsanto Co. is currently working with Agriculture Canada scientists in Winnipeg to develop wheat that can tolerate applications of the popular herbicide Roundup. The company says the results of that research could reach the marketplace by 2003 or 2004. Other companies, including AstraZeneca, Novartis and AgrEvo, are also developing genetically modified crops.
