The real cost of North America's GE harvest

"Even though I've lived and breathed farming all the way up until this year, I'm ready to walk away from it now if that [genetic engineering] is going to be the future I don't want to be a part of it," Rodney Nelson, family farmer North Dakota, US.

The genetic engineering industry has been seducing American and Canadian farmers for nearly 10 years with its false promises of bigger and better crops at reduced costs.

Lured by pictures of a bright new future painted by companies like Monsanto, DuPont and Aventis, farmers signed up by the thousands to grow genetically engineered (GE) crops such as corn, soya, cotton and canola (rapeseed).

For many farmers, the dream ended as quickly as it begun with over 350 US farmers being involved in legal battles with GE companies. Many are afraid to speak out and those who do, risk losing their homes and land.

Some are facing ruin after being taken to court by GE companies using bully-boy tactics and undercover surveillance. Others have seen the value of their crop plummet after contamination from a neighbour's plants. All are united in their determination to tell farmers in other countries about the dangers of allowing GE crops onto their land.

"Never give up your right to use your own seed because if you give up that right you will be a serf of the land and it will go back to the [middle ages] feudal system." Percy Schmeiser (canola grower Saskatchewan, Canada) was prosecuted for accidental use of Monsanto's GMO canola seeds.

To hear what these farmers have to say click here to watch the video. You will need Real Player to see the video.

To download and read the farmers' fact sheet: Grains of Truth: false promises of genetic engineering, click here. To read this report online you will need Acrobat reader.

More information about Genetically Engineered (GE) Organisms.

More information about GE and agriculture.