OTTAWA – Government officials are considering a request to allow import of genetically altered pigs that hold promise for future human organ transplants.
A senior university research official predicts a day not far in the future when “smart packages” on food products will be able to tell consumers the level of disease-causing bacteria in products on the grocery shelf.
A Saskatoon-based biotechnology enthusiast predicts multi-billion dollar sales and Canadian industries that help do everything from wiping out hunger to reducing pollution.
These were some of the promises of biotechnology presented last week to MPs by biotech boosters.
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The same week the Commons environment committee spent a day inviting biotech skeptics to join others in debating the merits, dangers and moral implications of the scientific process, the agriculture committee invited a panel of boosters to tell the positive story.
Over four hours, they received an earful.
“We are going to see really remarkable advances,” predicted Larry Milligan, vice-president of research at the University of Guelph.
Meg Claxton of Saskatoon’s The Signature Group of biotech interests sang its praises with extravagant predictions. “Through biotechnology, we have the capability to enhance and expand our food supply, heal the sick, protect the healthy, generate new wealth, ease pollution, reclaim lost land and create a whole new selection of renewable resources.”
All witnesses urged the government to treat and regulate biotech products as they would other products, applying the usual tests of health, safety and efficacy.
They opposed the proposal by some skeptics to create a single government agency to review and regulate all biotech-produced products. Instead, the departments with expertise should continue to regulate products as they do now.
Sally Rutherford of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture said biotechnology holds the promise of improving profits and efficiency for farmers and of expanding food processing possibilities.
Chris Mitchler of the Consumers’ Association of Canada said consumers want choice and information. She complained that much of the public skepticism about new technology comes from ignorance because government has done a poor job of education and explaining how well the regulatory system works.
Better PR needed
“If I had a nickel for every time I have had to act as a public relations agent for the government of Canada as a CAC representative over the last year alone, I could be a comfortable self-employed consultant,” said the chair of the consumers’ food committee.
From Pioneer Hi-Bred Ltd., Lawrence Zeph urged MPs to write rules that are clear, science-based and are not so transparent that companies must divulge business secrets.
Assistant deputy agriculture minister Art Olson said the period of public comment on proposed biotech regulations ends Oct. 16 and early next year, the rules should be announced.
He was the witness who mentioned the pigs.
He said agriculture and health department bureaucrats are considering an application to allow import of a pig containing a transplanted human gene that researchers hope will lessen the rejection rate in organ transplants.
