For critics, the case might offer more evidence of the uncontrolled spread of GM crops. Out of control' seeds Mr Schmeiser's lawyers say the case is evidence that GM crops are spreading unchecked across farmland. The defence will argue that Monsanto failed to instruct farmers properly on how to plant the genetically engineered rape seed and keep it from spreading to neighbouring fields. As proceedings opened in the Canadian courtroom on Monday, Monsanto's lawyers said Mr Schmeiser's case was not about a few escaped plant seeds. Farmers who use the Monsanto product concerned can plant earlier and manage weeds more easily because the rape seed is engineered to survive powerful herbicides.
Experts disagree as to the likelihood of cross pollination is such cases.
Some research has shown that rape seed flowers can spread their pollen over great distances by both wind and insects. Other research shows that most of the pollen falls to the ground within a few metres of the crop it comes from. The court proceedings come two weeks after news that farmers in the United Kingdom have unwittingly been growing GM rape seed for two years. The crops were grown from seeds imported from Canada and taken from plants that had accidentally been exposed to GM material from nearby fields. Despite the fact that it seems very unlikely that the Canadian seeds will affect native plants or insects in any noticeable way, the British Government has asked farmers to destroy the affected crop and the company that supplied the seeds is offering to compensate the farmers.