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Web Posted | May 27 2003 06:02 PM CDT http://Sask.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=monsanto030527
Wheat board tells Monsanto to withdraw GM bid
REGINA - The Canadian Wheat Board is calling on Monsanto to withdraw
its application for approval of its Roundup Ready wheat. The application
is being considered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Board
chair Ken Ritter writes in a letter sent to the president of Monsanto
Canada, that the approval of GM wheat could have a devastating impact
on Western Canadian farmers.
READ THE DOCUMENTS: Ritter's letter to Monsanto MARCH 20, 2003:
Monsanto endures barrage of farmer demands Ritter says Monsanto
could face a backlash from farmers if it pursues current plans for
GM wheat approval. "Monsanto sells a lot of product in Western Canada
and a lot of farmers use their product and it is certainly my hope
that sane, commercial people in that company will view their commercial
position with farmers and make the common sense decision to withdraw,"
Ritter says. Trish Jordan, a spokesperson for Monsanto, says the
company thinks Roundup Ready wheat will add value to the industry
instead of hurting it. "We're not going to move forward and put
our Canadian business in jeopardy by doing anything that is going
to cause concern or harm for the industry," says Jordan. "Our whole
goal is to find a way to add value to the industry and we continue
to believe that it will." She says the application before the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency is only the first step, in what could be
a long process.
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