Saskatchewan Organic Farmers
File Lawsuit Against Monsanto and Aventis

CRAIG WONG / The Canadian Press 10jan04

SASKATOON—A group of organic farmers filed a class-action lawsuit on Thursday against seed giants Monsanto and Aventis for damage they allege was caused by genetically modified canola and to stop the introduction of genetically modified wheat.

"We have lost canola as a crop in our rotations because of genetic contamination, but we obviously cannot afford to lose wheat which is our largest crop and largest market," said Arnold Taylor, president of the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate.

"Our ability to farm organically is being threatened."

The lawsuit by Larry Hoffman of Spalding, Sask., and Dale Beaudoin of Maymont, Sask., was filed in Federal Court on behalf of all organic farmers in Saskatchewan.

It claims since genetically modified canola was introduced in Canada in the mid-1990s, it has been found growing on land for which it was never intended and few, if any, seed suppliers will certify their seeds as organic. The farmers also say introduction of modified wheat would doom their farms.

The claimants are seeking millions in damages for what they allege is the loss of canola as an organic crop in Saskatchewan.

Taylor and his family farm 1,400 hectares of certified organic land near Kenaston, Sask., south of Saskatoon.

"After 1996, with the advent of genetic engineered canola, we found that because of the risk of contamination we would eventually have to remove canola from our rotations," Taylor said.

"Canola, being a very large market, should have been a very valuable crop in our rotations, but with the proliferation of genetic engineered canola it is almost impossible to buy uncontaminated seed let alone contend with contamination from pollen drift."

Taylor said the introduction of genetically modified wheat would deal a "mortal blow" to organic farmers in Saskatchewan.

Such wheat is currently being grown experimentally in five provinces.

Canadian wheat exports were valued at $2.9 billion in 2000 and some have suggested those markets could be devastated if importing countries perceive that shipments include even a fraction of genetically modified wheat.

Terry Zakreski, the farmers' lawyer, said he will seek a court order to stop the introduction of modified wheat if a company tries to bring it to market before the lawsuit is resolved.

Officials for Monsanto and Aventis declined to comment on the lawsuit until they had a chance to review the farmers' statement of claim.

Monsanto spokeswoman Trish Jordan said the company is still several years away from the introduction of a variety of herbicide-resistant wheat.

"We've outlined several pretty significant milestones that we must achieve before we can begin to commercialize any sort of genetically enhanced wheat," Jordan said.

"Until we meet every one of those commitments we don't have a product to introduce."

Last year Monsanto won its lawsuit against Percy Schmeiser, who the St.-Louis-based company accused of illegally growing its brand of genetically modified canola.

The Federal Court ordered Schmeiser of Bruno, Sask., to pay $19,000 in damages to Monsanto. Schmeiser is appealing.

Schmeiser claimed the seed for his crop came from his own fields and contends they were contaminated by pollen from neighbouring fields or by seed blowing off trucks passing by.

Monsanto has since filed another lawsuit against Kelly Ryczak, a Yorkton-area farmer.

source: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWSDangerousFoods0201/10_lawsuit-cp.html 11jan04