Say NO to GMO When genetically modified wheat was discovered to be growing on a farm in the state of Oregon, Japan made the decision to cancel a tender that would have seen them purchasing grain from the United States. This move was soon followed by other nations including China, the Philippines and South Korea as the crop has not been approved for human consumption or for sale.

Not the First Crop to be Contaminated

While this particular crop has caused wheat imports to be cancelled, this is not the first time that contamination of a crop through GMO seeds has occurred. During 2006, a substantial amount of long-grain rice grown in the US was found to be contaminated by an experimental crop that had been developed by Bayer CropScience. This resulted in the ban of rice imports into Europe and Japan at the time which resulted in market prices being lowered substantially. Compensation to the value of $750 million was paid to rice growers as a result of the contamination.

Future Purchases to be Made with Caution

Chinese flour millers have stated that as a result of the contaminated crop, they will be more careful regarding the purchase of wheat from the United States. South Korea and the Philippines will also be thoroughly inspecting further imports from the US as a safety precaution. An investment analyst from Singapore has stated that purchases of US-grown wheat may either be cancelled or reduced substantially. This is especially true in Asian countries where most consumers do not favor the use of GMO foods. As a result, additional pressure could be placed on wheat supply and demand in these particular regions.

Approval Required for GM Crops Prior to Planting

Current legislation states that no genetically modified crops are allowed to be planted or grown in the United States unless prior approval has been received from the USDA. This is to ensure that they pose no environmental risks or health threats to the population. Although Monsanto had experimented with four strains of genetically engineered wheat during the 1990’s, no final decision had been made regarding its safety at the time, as they had initially decided that there was no market for the genetically modified wheat.

More Details Regarding Crop Safety Required

Japan has stated that they will halt wheat purchases from the US until it can be proven that they are not genetically altered in any way. In order for this to take place, a test kit will be required that will be able to identify whether crops have been genetically modified or not. Currently, no kit is available in the US that is able to perform this task. However, the USDA has claimed that they are working on developing a ‘rapid test’ kit that will help determine the authenticity of wheat crops. With regards to food that has been genetically altered, the above mentioned countries have decided to take the necessary step of safeguarding the health of its citizens by not allowing crops into their countries that have not been proven safe for human consumption.