This is quite troubling to the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, a coalition of 16 farming, environmental and social justice groups focused on genetic engineering in food based in Halifax. "We're relieved this is an isolated contamination case but we're concerned that the government couldn't determine how it happened. Without knowing the cause, contamination could happen again," said Lucy Sharratt, a coordinator with the network
"It does raise concerns that somewhere else, at another date, we could find plants with this genetically modified trait. That would put Canada's annual $11-billion wheat business at risk. Global markets haven't approved genetically modified wheat; we know if (it) is found in exports, those export markets will close...."
Canada is one of the world's largest wheat exporters, and Japan is the second largest purchaser of Canadian wheat, after the United States. Alberta's government reports that it exported $203 million worth of wheat to Japan in 2017. In that same year, it exported $280 million worth to the U.S., and $200 million worth to Indonesia. Bangladesh ($143 million) and Peru ($126 million) were the rest of the top five listing of Alberta wheat buyers. Japan imported 1.4 million tons of wheat from Canada last year and 1.6 million tons the year before, said Cam Dahl, president of industry group Cereals Canada. "Japan is a very good customer. More than that, they are a premium customer. They are the highest grade buyer of Canadian wheat in the world."
Losing Japan as a major wheat buyer, because they pay a premium for high-quality, high-protein wheat, hurts Canada and creates opportunities for U.S. and Australian wheat exporters, Dahl said. He is concerned that South Korea and China may be next to suspend Canadian wheat imports. In 2016, Japan and South Korea temporarily suspended U.S. wheat imports after a similar GMO wheat finding. Japan's move leaves an yet to be determined volume of Canadian wheat already loaded on vessels needing to find a new market, possibly at bargain rates to Indonesia or Bangladesh, Dahl said.
Kevin Bender, chairman of the Alberta Wheat Commission, said Japan's move is deeply concerning.
"Japan is one of our biggest wheat customers, so if they stop importing our grain, that's a major blow to our exports of wheat. We hope that it's very brief. My hope is that it would be short-lived based on, first of all, Canada's reputation as a high-quality producer of wheat and food, our safety record, the fact that this is an isolated event. Officials with Japan's ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries are scheduled to visit Canada next week to seek more information."
"The government of Canada is working with its key trading partners to ensure they have all the necessary information and are relying on science-based evidence to limit market disruption," Global Affairs spokesman Jesse Wilson said in a statement. "Temporary market closure is a standard protocol for the Japanese."
[Thanks to files from Reuter's Yuka Obayashi in Tokyo and Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, and Lauren Krugel with The Canadian Press]
see also: Canada finds unapproved GMO wheat in Alberta
Rod Nickel Reuters, 14 June 2018
https://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCAKBN1JA341-OCABS
From Russian Television:
Monsanto spokeswoman Trish Jordan said in a statement that "there are no foods, feed or environmental safety concerns associated with the presence of the glyphosate tolerance, if it is found to be present in wheat." US agrochemical giant Monsanto began conducting field-testing of herbicide-tolerant wheat in Canada in 1998, but stopped in 2004 after widespread opposition. The discovery of GMO wheat developed by Monsanto in a farm field in Washington State prompted Japan and South Korea to temporarily suspend imports of some US wheat two years ago.
Please see also: .rt.com/business/429846-japan-canadian-wheat-ban/
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Reuters had a slightly different stance in their reporting, one more appropriately alarmed at the international trade implications of this development:
"Officials with Japan's ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries are scheduled to visit Canada next week to seek more information, said Cam Dahl, president of industry group Cereals Canada, whose members include Cargill Ltd [CARGIL.UL] and Richardson International. He said he is concerned that South Korea and China may be next to suspend Canadian wheat imports. Losing Japanese buyers, who pay a premium for high-quality, high-protein wheat, hurts Canada and creates opportunities for U.S. and Australian wheat exporters.
Please see: reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCAKBN1JB100-OCADN
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Huffington Post Canada got right to it:
The CFIA says it isn't sure how the modified wheat came to be on the farm access road. The agency says it will work with the landowner to monitor the area over the next three years to help prevent any genetically modified wheat from persisting.
David Bailey, an agency spokesman, says there is no evidence the wheat is in Canada's grain or seed system and there should be no effect on grain exports. "It is not in our commercial system and therefore is not in our trade of grain and seed -- it is not a concern for agriculture. We are doing everything we can to keep business running as usual for Canadian wheat producers.''
see also: click here
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