The Western Australian Supreme Court will today hear what is expected to be a landmark court case on a farmer’s right to produce genetically modified crops.
Steve Marsh is suing neighbouring farmer, Michael Baxter, for damages and loss of income after his property was contaminated with Roundup Ready GM canola that blew over from Baxter’s property, resulting in the loss of his National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia organic certification on 70 percent of his farm.
Marsh has received support from Australian not-for-profit, the Safe Food Foundation, who says that the case has come at a ‘pivotal time globally’ for genetically modified food. http://www.foodmag.com.au/news/landmark-gm-court-case-to-commence-today
You may not have heard of Steve Marsh yet, but this Australian farmer could lose everything to protect your right to eat GM-free food.
Steve is an organic farmer from Kojonup, in Western Australia. In 2010, the Western Australian State Government lifted the moratorium on GM canola/rapeseed, allowing cultivation of this GM crop for the first time. As a result of this change in policy, many farmers, including Steve Marsh’s neighbor, began growing Monsanto’s genetically modified (GM) canola/rapeseed. Subsequently Steve’s organic farm was contaminated. As a result of this contamination Steve lost organic certification on 70% of his farm. Steve has since lost a great deal on his premium income and his once profitable livelihood has been decimated.
Link : http://covvha.net/steve-marsh-gmo-trial-transcripts-released
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