[news] National Farmer's Union/PRESS RELEASE

[sharai]

National Farmer's Union
In Union is Strength

National Office
2717 Wentz Ave.,
Saskatoon, SK,
S7K 4B6
(306) 652-9465 ph
(306) 664-6226 fax


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MAY 10, 2004

WIDESPREAD OPPOSITION TO ROUNDUP READY WHEAT FORCES MONSANTO TO BACK OFF

SASKATOON, SK - Widespread opposition from farm organizations, environmental
groups and consumers has forced Monsanto to terminate its research and
promotion of genetically-modified (GM) wheat.  In a news release dated May
10, 2004, Monsanto announced it "will discontinue breeding and field level
research of Roundup Ready wheat."

"This is a tremendous victory for farmers in Canada and around the world,"
stated Stewart Wells, President of the National Farmers Union (NFU).
"Clearly, Monsanto is backing off because the opposition to
genetically-modified wheat is overwhelming."

"We look forward to Monsanto's official withdrawal of GM wheat from the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency's approval processes," added Wells.  "We
also look forward to assurances that no GM wheat will be planted anywhere in
Canada outside of greenhouses and that the threat of contamination and
subsequent market loss will be eliminated."

NFU Vice-President Terry Boehm pointed out that not only will this victory
ensure Canada preserves its traditional share of the global wheat market, it
will also save farmers millions of dollars in direct agronomic costs.  "The
savings in both these areas amounts to approximately $823 million annually,"
stated Boehm.  "That is good news for financially-strapped family farmers."

In addition to the direct savings, there are other indirect benefits.  Wheat
production will remain a viable option for many organic farmers, who would
otherwise face the possibility of their crops being contaminated by GM
seeds.  Consumers in both the domestic and international markets have also
indicated clearly that they reject genetically-modified wheat.

Boehm warned, however, that farmers and consumers must remain vigilant on
this issue.  "It is worrisome that, in its press release, Monsanto leaves
the door open for the introduction of wheat with other biotechnological
traits besides herbicide tolerance," he said.

The NFU was instrumental in bringing to light research by Agriculture Canada
scientists which proved a link exists between the use of glyphosate
formulations (like Monsanto's Roundup) and increased fusarium disease in
wheat.  Losses from fusarium already total hundreds of millions of dollars
per year, and the introduction of GM wheat may well have spread and
intensified the incidence of fusarium as a result of increased glyphosate
use.  Monsanto had been unwilling to provide Canadian regulators with full
disclosure of research on the correlation between fusarium and glyphosate
use.

The opposition to GM wheat included the NFU, Saskatchewan Organic
Directorate, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, the Canadian
Wheat Board, Canadian Health Coalition, Agricultural Producers Association
of Saskatchewan, Keystone Agricultural Producers, Greenpeace, the Polaris
Institute and others too numerous to list.  A letter signed by 220 Canadian
organizations expressing opposition to GM wheat was sent to then-Prime
Minister Jean Chretien on July 31, 2001.  It called on the Prime Minister to
"act immediately to prevent the introduction of GM wheat in Canadian food
and fields."

"The vast majority of farmers and a significant portion of civil society had
aligned against Monsanto and GM wheat," concluded Wells.  "In some ways, it
was Monsanto against 'everybody' - and 'everybody' won."

The victory echoes a similar victory in the 1990s, when Monsanto tried to
introduce a genetically-modified dairy cow hormone that Canadians didn't
want or need.  Rural and urban citizens united to oppose Monsanto and won on
that issue as well.  Today, a broad coalition has recorded a similar success
in turning back Monsanto's unwanted GM wheat.

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Contact:          Stewart Wells, NFU President (306) 773-6852 or (306)
741-7694
                   Terry Boehm, NFU Vice-President (306) 255-2880 or (306)
257-3689
                   Terry Pugh, NFU Executive-Secretary (306) 652-9465