Another GM Under Fire

General Motors isn’t the only “GM” under fire.

A group of food activist organizations from the US, Canada and Australia has been formed to oppose the wheat industry’s plan to push ahead rapidly with the commercialization of genetically modified (GM) wheat. While there are no GM varieties of wheat commercially available, the industry is looking at the chance to control pests and disease through genetic modification. The group insists the plan will centralize the seed supply in the hands of a few multinational companies, some of which (e.g., Monsanto) have mixed records as corporate citizens.

According to the group, local varieties of wheat are crucial for coping with disease, drought and other stresses on the wheat gene pool, and they’re concerned a small number of wheat varietals would make the world’s food supply dangerously vulnerable to a new pest or disease. Since cross-contamination from GM wheat is virtually impossible to stop, large scale commercialization could threaten the varieties adapted for local conditions. The seed companies counter by saying wheat acreage is down as farmers turn to other GM crops.

The high cost of GM crops has resulted in a decline in Canada. Additional argument against GM wheat (also referred to as GE or “genetically engineered”) includes resistance from consumers who don’t yet trust GM crops and meats. The anti-GM group consists of the Center for Food Safety, National Family Farm Coalition, Western Organization of Resource Councils, Organic Consumers Association (all US-based), the National Farmers Union, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, Union Paysanne, Union Biologique Paysanne, Réseau Québécois contre les OGM, and Saskatchewan Organic Directorate (Canada), and the Network of Concerned Farmers, Organic Federation of Australia, Biological Farmers of Australia, and Gene Ethics (Australia). Given the resistance to GM foods, it’s not surprising some companies are developing alternatives that will increase yields, be more resistant to pests, yet not involve genetic modifications. Dow AgroSciences and World Wide Wheat (W3) have announced a partnership aimed at combining Dow’s strength in commercializing seed traits and W3’s experience in plant breeding research to bring the “next generation” of wheat to market.

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