Daniel Lewis; 6/2/08
Farmers who embrace genetically modified crops will become slaves to biotechnology companies, the vice-president of Canada’s National Farmers Union has warned Australia’s agricultural sector. Terry Boehm, a canola grower who is on a four-state speaking tour, said the introduction of genetically modified canola in his homeland more than a decade ago had impoverished farmers and led to an exodus from the land. Biotechnology companies charged farmers a very high price, he said, and switching to GM had cost Canada its European market. Bans on growing modified canola in NSW and Victoria will end in a month, making the planting of such crops possible for the first time in Australia. Mr Boehm said it had been impossible in Canada to segregate modified and conventional canola. The conventional canola was deemed GM because of cross-contamination.
See: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/gm-crops-costly-canadian-warns/2008/02/05/1202090421381.html
