[Pollinator] [cban e-News] Release: New Report Warns of Inevitable Contamination if GM Alfalfa Released in Ontario

Tue Apr 2 13:57:13 PDT 2013

Hello,

Thank you very much for your helpful responses with respect to answering my
colleague's questions on the topic of GM alfalfa.

If anyone is interested, the report was just released today: "The
Inevitability of Contamination from GM Alfalfa Release in Ontario" and can
be found at www.cban.ca/alfalfaONreport

I have also included the press release below, for any interested parties.

Best regards,
KiM*
--
*

*K i m b e r l e y   M.   F e l l o w s**
*Pollination Outreach Coordinator*
*Seeds of Diversity <http://www.seeds.ca/en.php> ~ Pollination
Canada<http://www.seeds.ca/proj/poll/>
Semences du Patrimoine <http://www.seeds.ca/fr.php> ~ Pollinisation Canada
<http://www.pollinisationcanada.ca/>303-40 King Street South
Waterloo ON N2J 1N8 Canada
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Lucy Sharratt - CBAN Coordinator <coordinator at cban.ca>
Date: 2 April 2013 10:07
Subject: [cban e-News] Release: New Report Warns of Inevitable
Contamination if GM Alfalfa Released in Ontario
To: cban-e-news at cban.ca

Press Release

New Report Warns of Inevitable Contamination if GM Alfalfa Released in
Ontario

For Immediate Release

Tuesday April 2, 2013. Ottawa. Today, the Canadian Biotechnology Action
Network released a new report documenting the means by which genetically
modified (GM) alfalfa will contaminate non-GM alfalfa and hay crops in
Ontario, if GM alfalfa is released in Eastern Canada.

“We can clearly see how farmers will pay the heavy costs of this inevitable
contamination,” said Ontario organic sheep and vegetable farmer Ann Slater,
member of the National Farmers Union, “The only way to stop contamination
from GM alfalfa is to keep it off the market.”

Alfalfa is an important crop for dairy farming in Ontario as well as for
livestock farmers and vegetable and field crop producers. Some Ontario
farmers also save alfalfa seed.

The report details the role of seeds, pollen, and volunteer/feral plants in
the predicted contamination of non-GM alfalfa from GM alfalfa. If released,
GM alfalfa would be the first GM perennial crop introduced in
Canada. “While the conditions for contamination in Eastern Canada differ
from those in Western Canada where alfalfa seed is produced, contamination
in Ontario is assured, as are the economic costs to farmers,” said Lucy
Sharratt of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network.

“Our report documents the many means by which farmers can expect to see
contamination from GM alfalfa. Contamination is assured, the only question
is how long it will take and which will be the first or primary means of
gene escape,” said Taarini Chopra, also with the Canadian
Biotechnology Action Network.

“This report puts an end to discussions about coexistence with GM alfalfa,
its just not possible.” said Phillip Woodhouse, President of the Ontario
Grey County NFU local 344 who also attended an October 2012 meeting of the
Canadian Seed Trade Association where the industry attempted to construct a
coexistence plan to pave the way for GM alfalfa. “Forage
Genetics International appears willing to sacrifice the livelihoods of
Ontario farmers to get their product on the market somewhere in Canada.”

“No farmer can shield themselves from this genetic pollution. Does anyone
really believe that introducing GM alfalfa into Eastern Canada will protect
Prairie farmers from this contamination?” added Woodhouse.

The National Farmers Union-Ontario has called for consumers to support
farmers in a Day of Action to Stop GM Alfalfa on April 9. Ontario farmers
have organized protest rallies in 12 communities, outside of constituency
offices of federal Members of Parliament as well as outside the
Variety Registration office of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in
Ottawa where a final rubber-stamp to release Roundup Ready alfalfa is
expected any day. There are also 11 rallies confirmed in support of Ontario
farmers happening in towns in BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan (at the
office of the Minister of Agriculture), Quebec, and Nova Scotia.

-30-

For more information: Ann Slater, National Farmers Union, 519-349-2448;
Lucy Sharratt, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network 613 241 2267 ext 25,
Phillip Woodhouse, National Farmers Union, 519 599 5041. Details on the
April 9 Day of Action to Stop GM Alfalfa, including a list of actions,
can be found at www.cban.ca/april9 The report "The Inevitability of
Contamination from GM Alfalfa Release in Ontario" can be found at
www.cban.ca/alfalfaONreport

Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator
Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN)
Collaborative Campaigning for Food Sovereignty and Environmental Justice
Suite 206, 180 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2P 1P5
Phone: 613 241 2267 ext. 25
Fax: 613 241 2506
coordinator at cban.ca
www.cban.ca

Join us! April 9 is the Day of Action to Stop GM Alfalfa!
Outside federal Member of Parliament constituency offices, government and
corporate offices in 12 communities in Ontario, and 12 locations in other
provinces.
Rallies in Ontario: Belleville, Goderich, Guelph, Hawkesbury, Kingston,
Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Orangeville, Ottawa, Owen Sound, Stratford,
Toronto. Plus MP meetings in Midland and Lambton County.
Rallies in other provinces: Wolfville NS, Montreal PQ, Lévis PQ, Brandon
MB, North Battleford SK, Camrose AB, Calgary AB, Edmonton AB, Duncan BC,
Nelson BC, Vernon BC, Victoria BC.
Plus: Film Night April 4 in Camrose, and Film Night, April 9 in Winnipeg.
Details at www.cban.ca/april9

Genetically modified alfalfa could be registered to use in Canada as soon
as this April! Help us stop GM alfalfa and protect family farms from GM
contamination! For info on alfalfa: www.cban.ca/alfalfa

Donate today to support the campaign: www.cban.ca/donate

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http://www.cban.ca ~ Collaborative Campaigning for Food Sovereignty and
Environmental Justice
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