A coalition of environmentalists, organic farmers and genetic modification skeptics is urging prime minister Stephen Harper to intervene in the GM debate by blocking the release of GM varieties for use in molecular farming trials.
A group that includes the National Farmers Union wrote a letter to Harper in late May warning that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is consulting about rules for molecular farming but is not considering the broader issue of whether Canadians want GM varieties grown in nearby fields.
Molecular farming, considered a farm revenue source of the future, involves growing plants that have been modified to carry a gene that can be used in manufacture of medicines or industrial products.
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Greenpeace Canada campaigner éric Darier of Montreal, who wrote the letter endorsed by more than 40 groups including Friends of the Earth and the United Church of Canada, said that since 1994 there have been 86 open field trials of modified canola, tobacco, alfalfa, flax and other plants.
“Should GE (genetically engineered) plants intended for molecular farming be authorized in Canada, it would inevitably lead to the contamination of the environment, the food chain and would further damage the ability of Canadian farmers to access overseas markets,” wrote Darier.
“Your intervention on this issue would be an opportunity for your government to show leadership in protecting the environment, the rights of the public, farmers and consumers.”
Although the federal government has not formally responded to the letter, agriculture minister Chuck Strahl said he has read it and has his doubts.
“No one should be cavalier about it but I also don’t think we should immediately say there is something molecular going on and 95 percent of us do know what that could mean but we shouldn’t immediately say this is all Franken-science and we are all going to be growing shark fins out our backs,” he said in an interview.
“We should deal with it scientifically and make sure it is safe for Canadians, but let’s not close the door on what could be a great opportunity for Canadians simply because someone has an organizational agenda that’s different from what is good for the Canadian people.”
