A House of Commons decision to hold hearings into whether new genetically modified seed varieties should be subject to market impact analysis before approval has unleashed a firestorm of grain industry debate.
On April 14, MPs voted to approve in principle a private member’s bill proposed by British Columbia New Democrat Alex Atamanenko that would require market impact analysis before varietal approval.
“The idea is that there has to be a way to protect farmers from market disruption and the danger of contamination from GMO that would hurt farmers like organic growers,” Atamanenko said April 15.
Read Also
Alberta researcher helps unlock the economics of farming
Lethbridge Polytechnic researcher helping agriculture producers with decision-making tools in economic feasibility
NDP, Bloc Québécois and Liberal MPs voted to send the bill for public hearings, although the Liberals say they do not support the proposal as written. They said they supported the bill to encourage a public debate on the idea of market impact for new GM varieties.
Two British Columbia Conservatives – Ron Cannan and James Lunney – broke with their party’s strong opposition to the proposal and voted for it.
Parliament Hill hearings are not likely before June or next autumn.
Second reading approval of Bill C 474 created an instant backlash from the Conservative government, the seed industry and farm groups that worry about injecting politics and ideology into the variety approval system.
“The biggest concern is that we will see innovation investment go elsewhere,” said Dave Sippell of Syngenta Seeds, president of the Canadian Seed Trade Association. He said the industry has voluntary programs in place to make sure market damaging varieties are not proposed for commercialization.
“To make it part of the regulatory rule would undermine the system and make Canada a less-attractive place for innovation dollars.”
Grain Growers of Canada president Doug Robertson sent a letter to agriculture committee chair Larry Miller, who voted against the bill, to warn that support came from those reacting to “fear and innuendo.”
“We are confident that once all committee members are aware of the benefits and understand the amount of testing for human, animal and environmental concerns required for new products prior to approval, the standing committee will reverse the decision taken at second reading,” he wrote.
“It’s unfortunate it has come to this,” said agriculture minister Gerry Ritz. “From our perspective, these decisions need to be based on sound science.”
Canola Council of Canada president JoAnne Buth said the parliamentary decision was “disappointing” and potentially damaging to farmers who depend on better seed varieties.
But supporters of the idea that acceptable new varieties must not only meet a scientific but also a social and economic standard were elated.
“This bill will not impede innovation,” National Farmers Union president Terry Boehm said.
