OTTAWA, ONTARIO - Genetically engineered wheat will endanger the livelihood of Canadian farmers by introducing the threat of genetic contamination, by ending their traditional right of reseeding, and by closing their grain to major markets, such as Europe.

This is the message that will be conveyed in an 11-city tour of the Prairies that will kick-off today, in Winnipeg. Spearheaded by the Council, of Canadians, Planting Seeds of Doubt: Taking a Stand Against Genetically Engineered Wheat in Canada is co-sponsored by the National Farmers' Union, the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate and the Parkland Institute and will aim at raising awareness of the perils of opening our fields to GE wheat.

Expert speakers will be expressing concerns about genetically engineered wheat. The Monsanto corporation is trying to get environmental approval to introduce GE wheat from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Health Canada and their American counterparts.

"Approving GE wheat would have consequences that are not limited to health safety concerns," says Nadège Adam, biotechnology campaigner for the 100,000-member Council of Canadians. "A farmer's traditional right to reuse part of the crop to seed the following year is also in jeopardy, as this practice would infringe the patent. And farmers who think they can go around this problem by switching back to natural seeds are faced with a contamination problem that is impossible to contain.

"We warned that this would happen with other crops such as canola, and it happened. Why the Canadian government would openly consider opening our wheat crops to such risks is beyond me. There is absolutely no evidence that GE crops have higher yields or are in any way beneficial for farmers. However, the potential for contamination is so high that the future of organic farming would be truly threatened by the release of GE wheat in the farming community."

This campaign has the support of biotechnology expert David Suzuki, who is highly critical of the federal government's unfounded cheerleading of biotechnology: "Biotechnology is a revolutionary area and is still in its infancy. While manipulative techniques are impressive, our understanding of how cells, organisms and populations work is still extremely limited. There is sufficient evidence to warrant confining biotechnology to research in labs and certainly to keep its products out of the food stream. If the government yields to Monsanto's pressure and approves the growing of Roundup Ready Wheat, they will continue the spreading of the Roundup resistant gene to surrounding fields and plants through pollen drift and they will jeopardise large markets that are banning the sale of GE foods."

The expert speakers, hailing from both Canada and the United States, will also explain why the European market will basically be closed to Canadian wheat farmers, as Europe steadfastly refuses to approve the consumption of GE wheat.

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     PLANTING SEEDS OF DOUBT TOUR SCHEDULE

Winnipeg, MB
February 26 - 7 pm
Theatre 100, St. Paul's College, 70 Dysart St, U. of Manitoba

Melville, SK
March 1 - 2:30 pm
Elks Hall (Corner of Main Street and 2nd Ave.)

Humboldt, SK
March 3 - 7 pm
Humboldt Uniplex, Highway 5

Saskatoon, SK
March 4 - 7pm
St. Joseph Parish Hall, Broadway and 8th Street

Rosetown, SK
March 5 - 7 pm
Legion Hall, 112 A, 1st Ave East

Swift Current, SK
March 6 - 7 pm
Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre, Agriculture Canada, Airport Road

Medicine Hat, AB
March 7 - 7:30 pm
Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery, 1302 Bomford Crescent SW

Red Deer/Rimbey, AB
March 8 - 7:30pm
Stewart Room, Red Deer and District Museum, 4525-47a Ave

Camrose, AB
March 10 - 7:30 pm
Augustana University College, Room C167, 4901-46 Ave

Edmonton, AB
March 11 - 7:30 pm
Engineering Teaching and Learning Complex, Shell Room, Univ of Alberta Campus, 91 Ave and 116 St.

Grand Prairie, AB
March 12 - 7:30 pm
Grande Prairie Regional College, Room D208, 10726 106 Ave.