Monsanto announced today
that the company will "de-prioritize" research into Roundup-Ready
wheat, a product opposed by wheat markets around the world as well as by U.S.
farmers. Opponents of genetically engineered wheat called Monsanto's announcement
a step in the right direction, but noted that Monsanto continues to seek USDA
approval for genetically engineered wheat and has not ruled out its introduction.
"We are pleased that
Monsanto is pushing back its planned introduction of genetically engineered
wheat, but it should be pushed back to never, not simply delayed," said
U.S. PIRG food safety advocate Richard Caplan. "No one wants or needs this
product, and the U.S. should not introduce unnecessary risk to human health,
the environment, or our export markets by accepting its introduction."
Food safety advocates and
a bipartisan coalition of Great Plains state legislators have been working for
several years to block genetically engineered wheat. Economists have predicted
significant economic harm from its commercialization, as key markets around
the world have indicated a refusal to accept wheat imports from countries that
authorize commercial plantings. Because the Food and Drug Administration does
not require mandatory food safety assessments of genetically engineered crops,
significant questions remain about its human health impacts. It is also likely,
as with other crops engineered to withstand applications of herbicides, that
chemical use on the crop would increase rather than decrease.
"Monsanto should finish
the job it has begun with today's announcement and announce that it is terminating
its efforts to bring Roundup-Ready wheat to market," concluded U.S. PIRG's
Caplan. "Today's announcement is just one step."
