Their statement: Definitive Global Rejection of Genetically Engineered Wheat opposes the recent Wheat Biotechnology Commercialisation Statement endorsed by industry groups in the three countries.

Fifteen groups in Australia, Canada and the USA have so far endorsed the community statement, including the National Farmers Union of Canada, the Network of Concerned Farmers in Australia, and the National Family Farm Coalition in the USA (1).

“The genetic engineering of wheat would be a calamity for all wheat farmers,” said Julie Newman, a wheat farmer and spokesperson for the Network of Concerned Farmers in Australia. Consumers across the world have already rejected the idea of GE wheat but corporations are intent on controlling this crop through their gene patents.”

The group statement centres on the pledge: “In light of our existing experience with genetic engineering, and recognising the global consumer rejection of genetically engineered wheat, we restate our definitive opposition to GE wheat and our commitment to stopping the commercialisation of GE traits in our wheat crops."

According to Terry Boehm, a wheat farmer and Vice President of the National Farmers Union of Canada “GE wheat is a potential disaster of huge proportions. People do not want GE in their bread. We refuse to allow industry groups to restart any campaign to commercialise GE wheat.”

GE wheat is currently not grown anywhere in the world. In 2004, following uproar from farmers and consumers, Monsanto was forced to withdraw its applications to release GE herbicide tolerant wheat in Canada and the USA. But now Monsanto and its allies have regrouped and are pushing harder than ever.

Other organisations around the world are invited to endorse the GE-free wheat statement before August 31, 2009.

(1) The statement was signed by the following 15 organisations: National Farmers Union, Canada; Canadian Biotechnology Action Network; Union Paysanne, Canada; Union Biologique Paysanne, Canada; Réseau Québécois contre les OGM, Canada; Saskatchewan Organic Directorate, Canada; Network of Concerned Farmers, Australia; Organic Federation of Australia; Biological Farmers of Australia; Greenpeace; Gene Ethics, Australia; National Family Farm Coalition, USA; Western Organization of Resource Councils, USA; Center for Food Safety, USA; Organic Consumers Association, USA.