Carey Gillam
Reuters via Agnet 17/04

Monsanto Company is, according to this story, discussing with the U.S. wheat industry whether it should be held to its promise not to release biotech wheat in the United States unless it can simultaneously market it in Canada, wheat industry officials said Tuesday.

Monsanto was cited as telling top officials from wheat growers and wheat marketing organizations over the weekend that it was facing stiff opposition to its biotech wheat product in Canada.

In a written presentation prepared for the meeting, the company raised the possibility of "alternative strategies" to the simultaneous U.S.-Canadian release it has pledged to the wheat industry for more than a year.

The story says that Monsanto spokesman Michael Doane would not discuss details of the weekend meeting, and stressed that the company remained focused on releasing the controversial new wheat after approvals were granted in both countries.

But wheat industry leaders confirmed Monsanto was putting on the table the option of going ahead without Canadian approval as regulatory clearances any time soon in Canada appeared uncertain.