Dear Linda (via Ann),
Sounds like you need to get the big guns out. I would recommend contacting
Brewster Kneen at the Ram's Horn for contact information regarding the
effect of GMOs on organic canola growers. Lucky for you he's here in BC -
Brewster Kneen
S-6, C-27, RR.1
Sorrento, B.C. V0E 2W0, Canada
ph/fx: 250-675-4866
www.ramshorn.bc.ca
RAFI would be the other organisation to contact in Winnipeg -
Pat Roy Mooney / Bev Cross
RAFI Headquarters
110 Osborne St., Suite 202
Winnipeg MB R3L 1Y5
CANADA
Tel: (204) 453-5259 (Central Time Zone)
Fax: (204) 925-8034
rafi@rafi.org
www.rafi.org
The only way you may win this is to get a lot of press on your side and I
think both organisations will be able to help get the word out as well as
provide you with the background information. Have you contacted COABC to
let them know what's happening?
I can't think of anyone at UBC who might be able to help but I'll ask
around. Good luck & keep me posted.
Arzeena
-----------------------------
Terra Viva Organics
Looking for organic seed?
www.tvorganics.com
---------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: E. Ann Clark <eaclark@uoguelph.ca>
To: <sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu>
Sent: Friday, March 24, 2000 11:56 AM
Subject: [Fwd: GMOS & Apple trees]
> Folks: this is a tough situation - can you help? The writer is in
Canada, so
> those knowledgeable about the Canadian situation would be more helpful,
but
> general comments from anywhere would be appreciated. What, if anything,
can she
> do? Where can she turn for help? Thanks. Ann
>
> Linda Edwards wrote:
>
> > Our local Ag Canada Research Station is about to begin field trials of
> > genetically engineered apples - ones which will have fruit that won't
brown
> > when cut. Because of open pollination the ultimate outcome of this could
be
> > the end of a thriving organic tree fruit industry. The Stations response
to
> > our concerns so far has been to send us a document entitled "Regulation
for
> > Biotechnology" that says that organic growers should increase their
buffer
> > zones to avoid contamination by polliantion.
> > We are doing every reasonable thing we can to try and stop this
including
> > trying to get our provincial government to veto the trials. Apparently
they
> > could do this for at least anything off the Station. Our current
> > Agriculture Minister is sympathetic-we are the only tree fruit growers
that
> > are not constantly pestering him for help. He has asked for information
to
> > show that organic growers have actually suffered economic loss, lost
their
> > certification etc. in other places where GE crops have been introduced.
We
> > have anecdotal stuff - for example my cousin in Saskachewan - an organic
> > grain and oilseed grower can no longer grow canola. I have heard that
the
> > conventional canola growers lost millions of dollars of lucrative
European
> > sales as well. However, these are just stories and we need FACTS ! Do
you
> > have such or can you direct us to where we might find it ?
> > Also we have a meeting coming up in a couple of weeks with people from
the
> > Station and the company working with them. They are coming out to tell
us
> > that we have nothing to worry about. We know they are worried about
losing
> > their investment and all in this research. These are people we see on
the
> > local ski hill, in the supermarkets and at school functions. We do not
wish
> > them ill but it is absolutely necessary they stop doing what they are
doing.
> > The question is , is there any kind of research that could be done in
> > genetics that could be used to increase accuracy and speed in
conventional
> > plant breeding ? What can be salvaged from this whole new field of
endevour
> > which would be less risky etc.
> > Thanks again for your web site. We pass the address on daily ! Linda
> > Edwards, Organic Producers Association of Cawston-Keremeos
>
>
>
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