Opposition to GMR Organizational Signature Activities -Continued

The Consumers Union of Japan, Stop Genetically Modified Rice Cooperatives Network, NO! GMO Campaign, and the Genetically Modified Rice Watch Center appealed to domestic consumer and producer organizations to collect signatures to oppose the development of genetically modified rice.
On October 5, 2001, a delegation presented the collected signatures to the appropriate development corporations and government offices, but Monsanto refused to accept the signatures.
After negotiating with Monsanto, it was decided that the signatures would be delivered on November 7th.
Seiichiro Yamane, Monsanto vice president, casually accepted the signed documents. The delegates read the text of the document while Mr. Yamane listened in disgust. Mr. Yamane posed some questions to the delegation.
In reference to the section that read, "…the reduction in cost is no more than 10% - 20% less than commercial cultivation." He asked, "A 10 - 20% reduction is insufficient. What were these figures based on?"
The delegates replied, "The figures were based on an explanation by a representative of the Aichi-Ken Agricultural Research Center." Mr. Yamane said that he would "confirm that."
Mr. Yamane further commented, "Agriculture in Japan would increase by a factor of 3 - 5 times because of cost reduction brought by a reduction in labor. We imported technology from overseas because we realized that the amount of cost reduction is an important issue. The main issue was to decide which technology to use. For Monsanto, business development depends on agricultural development. Japanese should stop eating bread."
When the delegates asked about the progress of development of genetically modified rice, Mr. Yamane replied, "There are no technological problems. To provisionally sell it, we would create the safety data."
Although delegates appealed for halting development by pointing out that "Japanese consumers are opposed to genetically modified rice as shown by these signatures we gathered," Mr. Yamane had no reply.
Monsanto asserted, "Although we have not refused these signed documents, protests against these activities would be a violation of the rules." The delegation then indicated that a constructive conference with Monsanto would be sought in the near future.

Koga Mako, Consumers Union of Japan nishoren@jca.apc.org

[ January 15, 2002 | NGO's_infomation ]