Countries to cooperate on biotech wheat release

Farm and Ranch May 21, 2009 Organizations representing the wheat industry in the United States, Canada and Australia have announced they will work toward the goal of synchronized commercialization of biotech traits in wheat. There is currently no commercial production of genetically modified wheat anywhere in the world. Noting that "none of us hold a veto over the actions of others," the wheat groups agreed it was in the best interest of all three producer communities to introduce biotechnology in a coordinated fashion to minimize market disruption. As U.S. Wheat Associates President Alan Tracy told us in a previous interview, there is still opposition to GM wheat overseas. Tracy: "In terms of getting it sold overseas, we still have resistance. We have resistance that is especially strong in North Asia and in Europe. And of course those are very key quality markets for us." In addition to U.S. Wheat Associates, U.S. organizations signing the statement were the National Association of Wheat Growers and the North American Millers' Association. Canadian signatories include Grain Growers of Canada, Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association and Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission. Australian signatories include Grains Council of Australia, Grain Growers Association, and Pastoralists and Graziers Association of Western Australia (Inc.). U.S. Wheat groups had hoped they could make this announcement about a synchronized release during the Commodity Classic held in February of this year, but not everyone had yet agreed on the wording of a joint statement. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.