Requesting CFIA to publish location of genetically modified wheat field trials

June 20, 2018

Mr. Paul Glover, President
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
1400 Merivale Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0Y9 email: Paul.Glover@inspection.gc.ca

Dear Mr. Glover,

Re: Location of genetically modified wheat field trials

The National Farmers Union is very concerned about the potential loss of Canada’s wheat markets due to contamination of crops and fields with genetically modified wheat escapes from experimental test plots. It has been our position since 2001 that open-air testing of GMO crops in undisclosed locations poses unacceptable risks to Canadian agriculture. The recently reported incident where wheat plants with a Monsanto-owned glyphosate resistance trait were discovered in southern Alberta is a serious wake-up call. Thus, we are requesting that the CFIA make public the precise location of every current and past genetically modified wheat test site so that farmers and other Canadians can be on the look-out for escapes and if found, assist in eradicating them.

We further call for an end to the practice of allowing open air testing of genetically modified crops. The only way to prevent these genetic escape incidents happening in the future is to ban outdoor testing.

Sincerely,

Terry Boehm,
Chair of National Farmer Union Seed Committee

CC:
Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister;
Hon. Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture