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Topic: Monsanto Drops GM Wheat
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'lance
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1064
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posted 10 May 2004 10:38 PM
quote: REGINA - A big reversal from biotech giant Monsanto: the multinational company has shelved plans to introduce its controversial Roundup Ready Wheat. Monsanto says the decision follows extensive consultations with customers in the wheat industry. Many countries, especially in Europe, are opposed to genetically modified wheat and some threatened to stop buying any wheat from Canada. Genetically modified crops are engineered to resist certain herbicides, allowing farmers to kill weeds without killing their crops.
more I was just listening to Monsanto's spokesflack on As It Happens describe this as a "business decision," nothing to do with pressure from environmentalists, and as being down to a "lack of business alignment" among (petrochemical/biotech) industry, farmers, and gov't. But it's just a "deferral," she says, not a permanent cancellation. [ 10 May 2004: Message edited by: 'lance ]
From: that enchanted place on the top of the Forest | Registered: Jul 2001
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al-Qa'bong
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3807
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posted 11 May 2004 02:40 AM
I doubt that the campaign by environmentalists did much to sway Monsanto's bean counters and managaement sharks. I suspect that the greatest factor in the Monsanto decision was the lack of markets for GM wheat. The Europeans won't buy it, and threatened to stop buying any Canadian wheat if we started growing Roundup Ready varieties. Further research was hence costing them money for nothing. Profit, not the risk of contaminating our croplands, was the greater concern here. [ 11 May 2004: Message edited by: al-Qa'bong ]
From: Saskatchistan | Registered: Feb 2003
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Rebecca West
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1873
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posted 12 May 2004 01:07 PM
I think, to some degree, the Europeans have a longer history of destroying their human habitat, and are better equipped, therefore, to understand the impact of doing so, and are less likely to buy the line that Monsanto - a big, fat, bloated toxic corporate spider - spins. "Genetically modified foods are perfectly safe." Like Agent Orange and DDT? Like fuck they are you greedy, lying bastards.Anyhoo, just another example of the effectiveness of consumer activism. Ideological, moral, even practical environmental/scientific arguments are useless against these avaricious sociopaths, but they are useful for gathering consumer support. If enough of you don't buy their shit, they won't make it.
From: London , Ontario - homogeneous maximus | Registered: Nov 2001
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Rufus Polson
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3308
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posted 12 May 2004 01:17 PM
quote: Originally posted by al-Qa'bong: I doubt that the campaign by environmentalists did much to sway Monsanto's bean counters and managaement sharks. I suspect that the greatest factor in the Monsanto decision was the lack of markets for GM wheat. The Europeans won't buy it, and threatened to stop buying any Canadian wheat if we started growing Roundup Ready varieties. Further research was hence costing them money for nothing. Profit, not the risk of contaminating our croplands, was the greater concern here.
So it's the campaigns by European environmentalists which were effective. Sounds like we need to get some leaves from their books.
From: Caithnard College | Registered: Nov 2002
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