What happens if the rest of the world wont buy our crops

**charliep** · Jun 6, 2013, 13:43

At this point in time, the only US wheat that is being impacted is soft white winter wheat and only to the point of additional testing. They did disqualify US wheat from the recent tender. I suspect there will be additional testing for all wheats but the information I get is this has not started yet. They already buy glyphosate tolerant crops in the form of canola, soybeans, corn. After reviewing the facts and agreeing to tolerances, Japan also buys Canadian flaxseed even today.

The issue is this wheat never moved forward for review/approval beyond the US. It was found to be safe for humans and animals under USDA rules at the time. Not sure how far it got under our Plant with Novel Trait approval rules.

**charliep** · Jun 6, 2013, 13:45

When I commented on the tender, I should have said they disqualified soft white winter wheat. I think the Japanese tenders didn't disquality US hard red spring wheat.

**charliep** · Jun 6, 2013, 14:03

Japan Food Agency did postpone their wheat tender this week (normally today). The import 90 % of their wheat needs (10 % domestic). They usually tender the first 3 Thursdays of every month. Their monthly wheat imports are about 400,000 tonnes which is split 60 % US and the last split more or less equally Australia and Canada. Again they do buy Canadian flaxseed (not a big customer) based on our testing protocols and an agree tolerance (not zero).

Lots of other customers but this is just one example.

**charliep** · Jun 6, 2013, 14:24

For what it is worth, Canada has a zero tolerance for unapproved plants with novel traits (in this case gene modification). If this genetic event were to show wide spread presence, Canada would likely shut the boarder to US based on current rules. That is of course assuming that the RR wheat did not clear our plant with novel trait regulations.

It will make some of you readers here mad, but Canada is reviewing it policy on low level of presence of genetic events not registered here that are being imported into our country. The federal government and its agencies have been seeking industry input on this policy.

**charliep** · Jun 6, 2013, 14:27

Last sentence didn't make sense. That is crops that have the presence of a genetically altered crop at some low level which had not passed our rules/testing protocols.

**pourfarmer** · Jun 6, 2013, 14:41

I suppose my concern was more related to
the fact that there are currently approx
33 countries out there that do not want
any GMO food stuffs, some dont even want
they transported through their borders.
With the recent headline regarding japans
decline of US wheat it seems like their
are more people wondering 'if japan doesnt
want gm crops, why do we?'

**dalek** · Jun 6, 2013, 14:43

There are relatively few GM crops that Japan won't
accept and a large number that they will.

**dalek** · Jun 6, 2013, 14:46

http://www.ncga.com/upload/files/documents/pdf/k
byg-table1-print_2.21.2012.pdf

**Hopperbin** · Jun 6, 2013, 14:53

Says page requested is not availlable

What happens if the rest of the world wont buy our crops