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7th International Gathering on Biodevastation
Genetic Engineering: A Technology of Corporate Control
A Forum on Environmental Racism, World Agriculture and Biowarfare
May 16-18, 2003; St. Louis, Missouri USA

Concern with GM Hits Monsanto's Home Town FARMERS OPPOSED TO GM WHEAT COMING TO ST. LOUIS

For immediate release: May 1, 2003
Contacts: Daniel Romano, 314-771-8576; Michael Allen, 314-353-8176

May 1, 2003. St. Louis, Missouri. Farmers, scientists, environmentalists and civil rights activists will gather in St. Louis immediately prior to the World Agricultural Forum (WAF) to hear concerns with genetic engineering. The three day gathering in opposition to biotechnology will culminate with a protest at the WAF.

There is widespread opposition in the northern US and Canada to the introduction of Roundup Ready wheat, a genetically modified (GM) crop Monsanto hopes to market. Farmers are concerned that global opposition will prevent them from selling GM wheat on the international market. Candidates for pubic office are campaigning on opposition to the introduction of GM wheat.

"Millers would have to assume segregation of the types of wheat, which would be almost impossible," observes George Naylor, President of the National Family Farm Coalition. Naylor, an Iowa farmer who will be at the St. Louis protest, says "Just like soybeans, conventional and the Roundup Ready wheat varieties look identical and cross contamination could happen on the farm or anywhere seeds are processed or stored. It's clear that most of the soybean supply is contaminated with genetically modified seeds. Only thorough testing of a particular batch could determine the extent of contamination for that batch -- not good news for consumers or farmers like myself not wanting to use genetically modified crops."

Naylor will speak in St. Louis this May 16 - 18 at the 7th International Gathering on Biodevastation. The theme of the event is "Genetic Engineering: A Technology of Corporate Control." Subtitled "A Forum on Environmental Racism, Biowarfare and Environmental Racism," the three day gathering is hosted by the Gateway Green Alliance, which has addressed issues of toxins in St. Louis since 1990.

The opening panel of Biodevastation is "The International Threat to Farms and Farmers." It will highlight the destructive impact of corporate policies, including those of Monsanto, on farms and farmers throughout North America and the world. The panel will include:

  • Percy Schmeiser, the Canadian farmer who was sued by Monsanto for the "crime" of having his canola crop contaminated by the company's genetically engineered product. Schmeiser is pursuing the case, and has appealed to the Canadian Supreme Court.

  • Felder Freeman, an agricultural specialist working in the South Carolina office of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, which works to help African-American farmers stay on their land by forming agricultural cooperatives and has developed an interest in organic agriculture.

  • Lawrence Tsimese of the Agricultural Reform Movement in Ghana, who will speak on the growing resistance to genetically modified crops by African farmers.

  • George Naylor, who is a plaintiff in a lawsuit against Monsanto and other biotech companies dealing with the negative economic impacts of genetically modified crops on family farmers.

    Other Biodevastation panels will cover "Environmental Racism," "Biowarfare ," "Globalization, Food Imperialism & War" and "Crop Contamination & the Future of Indigenous Agriculture."

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