WINNIPEG – One of Canada’s leading plant biotechnology researchers is hoping a gene mix-up that resulted in herbicide-resistant canola seed being pulled off the shelf does not cast a black cloud over biotech development.
Wilf Keller, a canola researcher with the Plant Biotechnology Institute in Saskatoon, said he hopes people get their facts straight before stirring up the debate surrounding genetic manipulation.
“Yes, something went wrong, but biotechnology did not go wrong,” Keller said. “It happened long after the gene left the biotech lab.”
The merits of genetic enhancement through biotechnology could benefit all Canadians, Keller said, pointing to nutrition improvement and the lowering of toxins and allergens in food.
Read Also
Agriculture ministers agree to AgriStability changes
federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
Mark Winfield, an environmental policy analyst, said the incident will shake consumer confidence in genetically altered products and the regulatory framework set up to govern their development.
“Things are moving far too quickly and without adequate scrutiny,” he said. “It clearly highlights Ag Canada’s failure in tracking these kinds of products.”
Winfield said there could be cause for legal action on the basis of regulatory negligence if farmers who suffer damages can’t get compensation.
