FREDERICTON – Federal and provincial agriculture ministers last week were told that despite some consumer unease about genetically modified foods, there appears to be no evidence of widespread resistance.
“The research tells me there isn’t,” said Richard Tudor-Price, an Agriculture Canada official who co-chairs a federal-provincial committee on biotechnology communications strategy. “A number of people say they are concerned but the evidence is that they are not deeply engaged in the issue.”
Earlier, he and Ontario government official Bob Seguin told ministers the government’s main communications strategy should be to continue stressing the safety of products approved and the strength of the regulatory system.
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
“The immediate focus is on satisfying Canadians that the regulatory system is appropriate,” said Tudor-Price.
He said the anti-GM campaigns of some groups do not appear to have spooked large numbers of consumers into rejecting GM products.
Even though ministers listened to this positive report, some were preparing to voice their own concerns about the way the GM debate has evolved.
They were meeting in New Brunswick, where the decision by McCain Foods to avoid genetically modified potatoes for its french fries has caused problems for the province’s dominant potato crop.
Reporters wondered at the closing news conference for the federal-provincial agriculture ministers’ meeting whether there is a government strategy to clarify the grey area of consumer and producer uncertainty over GM crops.
Quebec minister RŽmy Trudel said there is significant concern in his province over the need to label.
And he said governments should change intellectual property and patenting laws to make sure farmers do not become like Middle Ages serfs, dependent on the companies that own the seed.
“I think this is a very difficult issue for farmers,” he said.
Ease consumer concerns
Ontario minister Ernie Hardeman said his farmers want governments to move quickly to set rules for labeling so consumers are given more information. They also want the regulatory system to continue to ensure only safe products are marketed.
“They think government is moving in the direction they want it to go on this,” he said.
Vanclief jumped in to insist that McCains made its decision on the basis of consumer unease, rather than health concerns.
He said governments should not rush to create rules for GM foods that cannot be enforced because GM content cannot be detected.
Vanclief said farmers are not in a grey area about GM crops and can decide what to grow based on their assessment of market acceptance.
“Farmers are a very clever group of people when it comes to deciding what to grow.”
Other ministers agreed.
“Farmers know what they can sell,” said Manitoba minister Rosann Wowchuk.
“They know the market will not accept GM potatoes and will accept GM canola. That’s how planting decisions are made.”
