Monsanto shelves GM wheat
Web Posted May 11 2004 07:19 AM MDT

Regina - Monsanto has shelved plans to introduce its controversial Roundup
Ready wheat. Monsanto, which already produces Roundup Ready canola, says
the decision follows extensive consultations with customers in the wheat
industry.

Many countries, especially in Europe, are opposed to genetically-modified
wheat and some threatened to stop buying any wheat from Canada. Monsanto
spokeswoman Trish Jordan would only say that it is a "business
decision based on the economics of bringing this particular product to
market."

Genetically-modified crops are engineered to resist certain herbicides,
allowing farmers to kill weeds without killing their crops. Some farmers,
like Ray Hilderbrand, who already seeds genetically-modified canola, would
like the option to plant the herbicide-resistant wheat. "We have two
certain annual weeds that are hard weeds to kill. The Roundup (Ready wheat)
would give us the opportunity to get rid of those two weeds fairly
economically," he said.

But there is fierce opposition to genetically-modified crops. In Europe,
protesters have ripped them out of the ground. Environmentalists call
Monsanto's decision a victory. "There's no market for it, no one sees
it as a necessary technology," Pat Vendetti, of Greenpeace Canada,
said.

The strongest opposition came from countries that buy Canadian wheat.
"We've had firm statements from customers around the world, but
particularly in Europe and Asia, saying that they don't want GM
wheat," Patty Rosher, of the Canadian Wheat Board, said.

Monsanto says it hasn't cancelled its application to sell GM wheat seed and
has not ruled out selling it in the future.


--- GoldED/W32 3.0.1