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The Toronto Star Organic farmers in Saskatchewan sue over modified seed; Class action alleges crop damage from gene-altered plants by Kanina Holmes A group of organic farmers launched a lawsuit against biotechnology giants Monsanto Co. and Aventis SA yesterday, seeking compensation for alleged damages caused by genetically modified canola they say is blowing into their fields. "Organic farmers in Saskatchewan have said that the time has come for this legal challenge and we're here today (Thursday) to let the world know that," Marc Loiselle, a board member of the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate (SOD), representing organic producers, told a news conference. "We claim that the two companies, Monsanto and Aventis, are responsible for GE (genetically engineered) contamination on multiple grounds and we're confident that this will be proven in the court of law," Loiselle told reporters in Saskatoon. Two organic farmers filed the class-action lawsuit in Saskatoon court on behalf of all organic farmers in the province. The legal action is also aimed at halting plans to introduce transgenic wheat in the region. There are about 1,000 organic growers in Saskatchewan, whose farms represent about 405,700 hectares. The organic group alleges that genetically engineered crops threaten the environment and organic farming. "Any kind of science, whatever it is, if it's infringing on our rights, they don't have a right to do it," said Arnold Taylor, an organic grower and president of organic directorate. Organizations that certify crops as organic have zero tolerance for ** genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the seed supply. They also prohibit organic farmers from applying most crop chemicals. Instead, organic farmers rely on crop rotation, which includes the staggered planting of canola and wheat, to control weeds. Many farmers across Western Canada have switched to gene-altered canola since GM varieties were introduced in Canada in the mid 1990s, citing better weed control and yields. Today, about 60 per cent of the canola grown in Saskatchewan is genetically modified to resist weeds. Canola is used mainly to produce processed food ingredients, cooking oils and livestock feed. Canada is the world's largest canola exporter. Organic producers say that pollen from genetically modified canola, which is patented by Monsanto and Aventis, is blowing onto their fields, contaminating their crops and their seed supply and driving away premium-paying customers, most of whom are in Europe. "They're trying to make these companies pay for their losses that were sustained by them from having removed a crop, an entire crop from their selection of crops," Terry Zakreski, the farmers' lawyer, said. "They want to stop them from introducing another crop that could economically destroy them if it's allowed to happen," said Zakreski. Monsanto, which produces Roundup Ready canola, one of the most widely grown GM varieties, has recently conducted field trials across Western Canada to develop genetically modified Roundup Ready wheat. The plants are genetically modified to be unaffected when the herbicide Roundup in used on the fields to control weeds. Monsanto Canada spokesperson Trish Jordan said: "To me it's just a matter of continuing to give farmers choice in terms of what they grow. And farmers make choices whether they grow organic or conventional or transgenic, and they make those choices based on what works for them on their farm." Monsanto has said that it will not commercially release GM wheat until concerns about segregation and market acceptance are addressed. |