Biotech ruling dangerous precedent: NFU

The National Farmers Union on P.E.I. says the Supreme Court of Canada set a dangerous precedent in its ruling against a Saskatchewan farmer.

The U.S. biotechechnology giant Monsanto alleged Percy Schmeiser deliberately planted Roundup Ready canola on his land in 1997. The company said that infringed on its patent. The court rejected Schmeiser's claim that the canola got into his field by accident.

Danny Hendricken, an Island farmer who speaks for the NFU, says Islanders have reason to be worried.

"I find it very disturbing that the Supreme court ruled in favour of the biotech industry," says Hendricken. "It has terrible negative implications for a province like ourselves, that is a small geographical land mass. And what it does, it eliminates the possibility of having organic and conventional production in this province."

Hendricken says sooner or later Island farmers will be in the same situation as Schmeiser.