Biotechnology fears calmed
The prospects for trade and development of genetically altered crops took a couple of steps forward last week.
An international panel of scientists issued a report for the World Bank that said genetically modified crops are no more dangerous to the environment than traditionally bred crops.
And they said the bank should back plant genetic research because it has the potential to improve the diets of billions of people in the Third World.
Brazil has recently decided there is no basic difference between conventional soybeans and varieties genetically altered to give herbicide tolerance. It will now accept imports of genetically altered beans.
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On page 16 of this week’s edition, Western Producer Winnipeg bureau reporter Roberta Rampton has a story on a couple of international negotiations regarding trade of genetically modified organisms or GMOs.
The story illustrates the diversity of opinion on the safety of transgenic foods and about how they should be labeled.
Canada, the United States and Japan take a similar position: There is no need to label foods containing material from GMOs unless the content of the food is different in nutrition or perhaps has an allergen added.
There is also the question of how far do you go in labelling. A genetically altered tomato might be a clear candidate, but what about ketchup containing a mixture of tomatoes including one genetically altered variety?
The European Union focuses more on process: If it was genetically altered, it should be labeled regardless of whether there was a nutritional change.
This attitude caused Canadian canola growers problems this year. Because herbicide-tolerant canola was not kept separate from conventional seed, Europe would not accept it this year.
“It is a great lesson in how not to do something,” said Kerry Hawkins, president of Cargill Ltd. Canada.
He recently told the Crop Protection Institute annual meeting in Winnipeg that genetic engineering is vital to meeting the world’s future food needs, but equally important is giving the public the information needed to understand and accept the new technology.
“If you don’t educate as you create, the problems are just beginning and will get bigger and bigger.”
The World Bank report, created by respected scientists, led by a Nobel Prize winner, provides the type of education he is talking about.
