NFU urges Ontario farm groups to rally against GM alfalfa

NFU invites OFA, CFFO to join ‘day of action’ to stop release of genetically modified alfalfa

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

One Ontario general farm group – National Farmers Union (NFU-O) is taking up action to try and stop the release of genetically modified (GM) alfalfa and is asking the other two provincial farm organizations to take up the cause.

The NFU-O wrote a letter [March 4] to ask the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) to join them in what they are calling an organized Day of Action on April 9th to stop the release of GM alfalfa. The Day of Action will be in the form of protest rallies at MP’s constituency offices from 12noon-1pm with a total of 13 events planned across Ontario and another 12 scheduled to take place throughout other parts of Canada.

NFU-O President John Sutherland noted a number of concerns about the release of GM alfalfa including: risk of contamination of non-GM alfalfa crops/seed stocks, increased seed/herbicide costs, and spread of glyphosate-resistant weeds.

While Canada approved GM alfalfa for health and environmental release in 2005, there is another step in the process before it can be commercially released – variety registration from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Forage Genetics International has applied Monsanto’s GM herbicide tolerant Roundup Ready to alfalfa, which is waiting for approval.

Inquiries for the Day of Action can be made by speaking to the following

NFU-O contacts:

John Sutherland, NFU-O President, 519-855-4651 or jjsutherland@sympatico.ca
Karen Eatwell, NFU-O Regional Council, 519-232-4105 or kareneatwell@execulink.com