<div dir="ltr"><div><div>Hello,<br><br></div>Thank you very much for your helpful responses with respect to answering my colleague's questions on the topic of GM alfalfa. <br><br>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 <a href="http://www.cban.ca/alfalfaONreport" target="_blank">www.cban.ca/alfalfaONreport</a> <br>
<br></div>I have also included the press release below, for any interested parties.<br><div><div><br><div><div><div><div dir="ltr"><p style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black"></span></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black">Best regards,<br>KiM</span></span><b><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br>
--</span></span><br></span></b></span></p><p style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black">K i m b e r l e y M. F e l l o w s</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black"><br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black">Pollination Outreach Coordinator<b><br></b><a href="http://www.seeds.ca/en.php" target="_blank">Seeds of Diversity</a> ~ <a href="http://www.seeds.ca/proj/poll/" target="_blank">Pollination Canada</a><br>
<a href="http://www.seeds.ca/fr.php" target="_blank">Semences du Patrimoine</a> ~ <a href="http://www.pollinisationcanada.ca/" target="_blank">Pollinisation Canada<br></a></span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black"></span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">303-40 King Street South<br>
Waterloo ON N2J 1N8 Canada<span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,51)"></span></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif"><font size="1"><span></span></font></span></p></div></div>
<div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Lucy Sharratt - CBAN Coordinator</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:coordinator@cban.ca">coordinator@cban.ca</a>></span><br>
Date: 2 April 2013 10:07<br>Subject: [cban e-News] Release: New Report Warns of Inevitable Contamination if GM Alfalfa Released in Ontario<br>To: <a href="mailto:cban-e-news@cban.ca">cban-e-news@cban.ca</a><br><br><br><div style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div>Press Release<br><br>New Report Warns of Inevitable Contamination if GM Alfalfa Released in Ontario<br><br>For Immediate Release<br><br>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.<br>
<br>“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.”<br>
<br>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. <br><br>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.<br>
<br>“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.<br>
<br>“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.”<br>
<br>“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.<br><br>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.<br>
<br>-30-<br><br>For more information: Ann Slater, National Farmers Union, <a href="tel:519-349-2448" value="+15193492448" target="_blank">519-349-2448</a>; Lucy Sharratt, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network <a href="tel:613%20241%C2%A02267%20ext%2025" value="+16132412267" target="_blank">613 241 2267 ext 25</a>, Phillip Woodhouse, National Farmers Union, <a href="tel:519%20599%205041" value="+15195995041" target="_blank">519 599 5041</a>. Details on the April 9 Day of Action to Stop GM Alfalfa, including a list of actions, can be found at <a href="http://www.cban.ca/april9" target="_blank">www.cban.ca/april9</a> The report "The Inevitability of Contamination from GM Alfalfa Release in Ontario" can be found at <a href="http://www.cban.ca/alfalfaONreport" target="_blank">www.cban.ca/alfalfaONreport</a><br>
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<span style="text-indent:0px"><div style="word-wrap:break-word"><span style="text-indent:0px"><div style="word-wrap:break-word">Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator <br>Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) <br>Collaborative Campaigning for Food Sovereignty and Environmental Justice<br>
Suite 206, 180 Metcalfe Street<br>Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2P 1P5 <br>Phone: <a href="tel:613%20241%202267%20ext.%2025" value="+16132412267" target="_blank">613 241 2267 ext. 25</a><br>Fax: <a href="tel:613%20241%202506" value="+16132412506" target="_blank">613 241 2506</a> <br>
<a href="mailto:coordinator@cban.ca" target="_blank">coordinator@cban.ca</a> <br><a href="http://www.cban.ca" target="_blank">www.cban.ca</a><br></div><div style="word-wrap:break-word"><br></div><div style="word-wrap:break-word">
Join us! April 9 is the Day of Action to Stop GM Alfalfa! </div><div style="word-wrap:break-word">Outside federal Member of Parliament constituency offices, government and corporate offices in 12 communities in Ontario, and 12 locations in other provinces.<br>
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.<br>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.<br>
Plus: Film Night April 4 in Camrose, and Film Night, April 9 in Winnipeg.<br></div><div style="word-wrap:break-word">Details at <a href="http://www.cban.ca/april9" target="_blank">www.cban.ca/april9</a></div><div style="word-wrap:break-word">
<br></div><div style="word-wrap:break-word">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: <a href="http://www.cban.ca/alfalfa" target="_blank">www.cban.ca/alfalfa</a></div>
<div style="word-wrap:break-word"><br></div><div style="word-wrap:break-word">Donate today to support the campaign: <a href="http://www.cban.ca/donate" target="_blank">www.cban.ca/donate</a></div><div style="word-wrap:break-word">
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