Strange Bedfellows: Contentious Coalitions and the Politics of CM Wheat*

Abstract

En 2004, une coalition d'organismes de fermiers et de mouvements sociaux réussit à s'opposer à l'introduction du blé génétiquement modifié de Monsanto au Canada. Malgré ce succès, des divisions parmi les participants posèrent des difficultés à encadrer le problème de façpn cohérente pour la coalition. S'inspirant d'une approche néo‐gramscienne des mouvements sociaux, cette étude éclaire le processus d'encadrement de la coalition en analysant le contenu du traitement médiatique de la controverse et d'autres documents. Quoiqu'elle ait réussi à exprimer les plaintes de membres divers, la coalition encadra son opposition au blé géenétiquement modifié de telle façon que la possibilité d'une critique globale du pouvoir dans le système agro‐alimentaire fut limitée. In 2004, a coalition of farmers' and social movement organizations successfully opposed the introduction of Monsanto's genetically modified (GM) wheat in Canada. Despite this success, divisions among participants presented the coalition with challenges in coherently framing the issue. Drawing upon a neo‐Gramscian approach to social movements, this study illuminates processes of coalition framing by analyzing newsprint coverage of the controversy and other documentary sources. While able to express the grievances of diverse constituencies, the coalition framed its opposition to GM wheat in a way that circumscribed the potential for a more comprehensive critique of entrenched power in the agrofood system.

Reflexive Modernization at the Source: Local Media Coverage of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in Rural Alberta

“…In a study of local coverage of biotechnology in two agricultural regions, Crawley (2007) found local (although urban) papers were more complex and expressive of a wider diversity of views than national papers. Such a diversity of views has been similarly identified within the agricultural sector itself, as has been the case in regard to genetically modified wheat in Canada (Magnan 2007). This finding may reflect a lack of consensus among farmers regarding biotechnology, with some agricultural producers readily adopting biotechnology, and others expressing greater caution.…”

Farmer knowledge and a priori risk analysis: pre-release evaluation of genetically modified Roundup Ready wheat across the Canadian prairies

“…These included ad campaigns in newspapers stating, 'we're not ready for Roundup Ready wheat' (Warick 2003) and 'the greatest threat to wheat farming isn't hail or drought, it's Roundup Ready wheat' (NFU et al 2004), as well as a prairie-wide tour that engaged many rural communities regarding risks associated with the technology (Magnan 2007). In stark contrast to our findings and widespread Canadian farm organization resistance, the US National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) recently found that 76% of farmers across 30 states support biotechnology traits in wheat (NAWG 2009).…”

Unlikely allies against factory farms: animal rights advocates and environmentalists

“…In Strange Bedfellows: Contentious Coalitions and the Politics of GM Wheat, Andre Magnan offers an examination of Canadian resistance to Monsanto's genetically modified wheat crops. He exposes the challenges faced by coalitions made up of diverse groups, and he also points out that this process has not been thoroughly examined (Magnan 2007). As with resistance to the use of genetically modified crops, studying resistance to CAFOs offers an opportunity for agrifood scholars to gain a better understanding of this process.…”