U.S. Farmers to Help Win GM Wheat Acceptance

[Guest guest]

Does anyone else have trouble trusting Monsanto with their

life,health, etc?

Misty

http://www..com

 

By Carey Gillam

 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Jan 29 (Reuters) - U.S. wheat farmers were moving

to help Monsanto Co. overcome customer apprehension to the world's

first genetically modified wheat, which is moving closer to

regulatory approval both in the U.S. and abroad.

 

" Consumers trust farmers, " said Monsanto wheat industry affairs

spokesman Michael Doane. " We've been investing in this technology...

now for probably a decade. We're entering a new part of the project

and need industry help to educate decision makers. "

 

After spending more than a decade - and tens of millions of dollars -

in development of a genetically modified wheat that allows farmers

to more efficiently control weeds, Monsanto has hit a critical

juncture, said Doane, who was spending this week at a meeting of key

wheat industry players in Albuquerque.

 

Doane said the company needs farmer groups to step up global

educational efforts to overcome the fears of millers and bakers and

food companies who have seen the food industry rocked by controversy

over genetically modified crops.

 

And the farmers are on board. While two years ago, the wheat farmers

viewed Monsanto's GM wheat proposal with some suspicion and fear of

losing markets, this week's annual gathering found firm support for

Monsanto and eagerness to obtain the potential benefits the

technology might offer.

 

" Rather than sitting on the sidelines hoping that it wins

acceptance... we're trying to help out, " said National Association

of Wheat Growers (NAWG) CEO Darren Coppock. " It is very much a

partnership (with Monsanto). "

 

As one sign of the new market outreach underway by growers, NAWG is

forming a group made up of players up and down the food chain,

including leading fast food giant McDonald's Corp., to formulate a

united front for GM wheat when it hits the market.

 

The group hopes to have a strategy together within the next year.

Monsanto submitted final regulatory submissions in the U.S. and

Canada in December and regulatory approval looks to be at least 18

to 24 months away. Monsanto has also applied for regulatory approval

in Japan.

 

Cautionary voice continued to be heard. Leading buyers of U.S. wheat,

both within the U.S., and in key export markets, have stated firmly

they will not buy GM wheat. The concern is not one of safety - the

science shows no evidence of health or environmental harm - but one

of public sentiment.

 

The contamination 2-1/2 years ago of taco shells, corn chips and

other products by a GM corn not approved for food use still has food

chain players skittish, even though a GM wheat would not be released

until it had full regulatory approval.

 

And last year's contamination of soybeans with an experimental

biotech corn aimed at treating diabetes further fueled fears about a

lack of control over biotech crops.

 

" Yes, we support food biotechnology and yes, we know it is grounded

in sound science, " said Betsy Faga president of the North American

Millers Association. " But we have to ask the question, are our

customers ready for genetically enhanced wheat? "

 

Archer Daniels Midland is one company concerned about a GM wheat

introduction. While ADM accepts the safety of the technology, the

company's customers say they don't want to buy GM wheat.

 

" They're telling me they're going to go non-GMO, " said ADM milling

executive Dave Green. " They don't want to lose even a small

percentage of customers. "

 

The highest hurdle seen by many is winning over the key world buyers

of U.S. wheat, including many Asian countries. Research by U.S.

Wheat, the group that markets domestic wheat abroad, has found

strong opposition and the group has cautioned that commercialization

could hurt overseas sales.

 

That message is one growers hope to quash. Indeed, this week, wheat

growers ordered U.S. Wheat to stop talking publicly about the export

market opposition, saying such discussion only hurts the efforts to

gain acceptance.

 

" We've got to figure out how to overcome the problems, " said Darrell

Hanavan, the head of a joint wheat industry biotech advisory

committee that works closely with Monsanto.

 

" We are going to see some biotech traits in wheat in the future that

are very beneficial to us, " said Hanavan. " I think (Monsanto) wants

to do things right. "