Canada Research Links Monsanto's Roundup to Serious Wheat Disease

Canadian government research links Roundup herbicide to wheat disease

(Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003 -- CropChoice news) -- From a news release:

Contact: Pat Venditti, Greenpeace Genetic Engineering Campaign,
416.597.8408, ext. 3017 or Cell 416.450.2439

Toronto, ON- Agriculture and Agri-food Canada researchers will release
information next week that reveals a demonstrable link between the use of
glyphosate herbicide formulations and increases incidence of fusarium head
blight, a scourge of Western Canadian farmers. Fusarium head blight produces
a toxin that makes infected wheat unsuitable for human or animal
consumption.

"These results indicate that the herbicides most widely used with
genetically engineered crops are partly to blame for increases in the
development of fusarium head blight,"said Pat Venditti, Genetic Engineering
Campaigner with Greenpeace Canada. "This is one more reason why the
government should deny approval for Monsanto¹s genetically engineered
wheat."

A decision on whether or not the government will approve Monsanto's
genetically engineered Roundup Ready wheat is pending. Roundup Ready wheat
has been developed to withstand applications of glyphosate herbicides.
Glyphosate herbicide formulations such as Monsanto's Roundup herbicide are
widely used on cropland that has been planted with genetically engineered
seeds such as Roundup Ready canola, or Roundup Ready soya.

Last week, the CBC revealed that Agriculture and Agri-food Canada stands to
gain financial benefits from Monsanto if Roundup Ready wheat is sold
commercially.

"³The research being done by researchers at AAFC Swift Current is the type
research that is needed prior to any GE crop release,"said Mr. Venditti.
"The Minister should take this into account and clearly reject Monsanto¹s
application for the environmental release of GE wheat. Farmers, not
Monsanto, should benefit from the farm policy of the government."

An abstract of the study ³Identification of crop production factors
associated with the development of Fusarium head blight in spring wheat in
southeast Saskatchewan² is available on the web at
http://www.umanitoba.ca/afs/agronomists_conf/program.html The study results
will be released Wednesday, December 10th, in Winnipeg.