The perception that many consumers have of modern farms can colour their expectations of the food they buy — so those perceptions should help shape how farms operate
When Canadian grocery buyers think about farmers, what images come to mind? Do they see a trustworthy, tractor-driving character who wears a straw hat, striped coveralls and a red flannel shirt to work every day? Or do they see low-income wage earners, working on a massive factory farm, where values such as environmental stewardship and […] Read moreTag Archives Divergence: the GM debate
Consumers still opposed to GM food
If given a choice, most consumers would choose to buy a non-GM food item — though most don’t read the labels
Health Canada says the results of a 2016 survey of consumer views on genetically modified foods will help the department communicate to Canadians. However, opinions remain largely unchanged from previous research that showed consumers are skeptical about, if not completely opposed to, genetically modified foods, the report said. “The findings from this public opinion research […] Read more
Divergence: If GM technology is safe, why don’t consumers trust it?
Food is tied to much more than the industries and science that produce it. Its popular history is not in the plant breeding or the planting or the plants and animals themselves. It is in the preparation and the consumption. And in large part, because of that, the rest of food’s story is based on […] Read more
Judge GM on a case-by-case basis: experts
Lucy Sharratt and Robert Wager don’t agree on much. Sharratt spends most of her time opposing genetically modified food, while Wager is a vocal defender of the technology. However, they do see eye to eye on one matter: it’s wrong to make blanket statements about the safety of GM food. “Each GM food needs to […] Read more
Farmers have much to teach consumers
Producer group aims to provide credible information on healthy meals and farm practices through consumer workshops
Consumers have become frazzled about food, whether it’s over GMOs, pesticides, gluten, big farms versus small farms, local versus global or organic versus conventional. Jennifer Dyck and Ellen Pruden are trying to alleviate the worry by challenging today’s food paranoia with a simple and friendly method. “I think it’s really about putting people back in […] Read more
Consumers search for trustworthy GMO information
Consumer perceptions and confusion abound when it comes to the topic of genetically modified organisms. There was no confusion for Jennifer Carlson when she launched her line of organic baby food 11 years ago. “Organic was always predominately the number one choice when we started this company,” the Calgary mother said. “As a mother, I […] Read more
Highlights on the road toward genetic modification in agriculture
1972: Researchers at Stanford University and the University of California use enzymes to cut a piece of bacterial DNA and replace it with another strand. This forms the basis for rDNA, the blending of genetics from a variety of organisms. 1974: Rudolf Jaenisch and Beatrice Mintz at MIT use rDNA tools and introduce foreign DNA […] Read more
Public’s anti-GMO perception tainted by media, say Green Party, NFU
Organization officials say because they questioned the need for GM food and pushed for scientific testing on its safety, they have been labelled GM opponents
Dozens of Canadian organizations are dedicated to halting the march of genetically modified food with messages from mild skepticism to radically militant and doses of real science sprinkled throughout. Here’s a look at two of the best known: the Green Party and the National Farmers Union. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, the party’s only MP, […] Read moreFarm groups challenge food company’s non-GM pledge
Yogurt maker Dannon is misleading the public by suggesting non-GM crops are more sustainable than GM crops, say opponents
Farmers and food companies have dropped the gloves in the de-bate over genetically modified food. A number of food companies have recently announced they are introducing non-GM product lines. That is making growers antsy because many rely on biotechnology to keep weeds and insects at bay. The line in the sand for farm groups was […] Read moreGrappling with GM animals
The House of Commons agriculture committee has recommended greater regulatory transparency when evaluating genetically modified animals for human consumption. However, it stopped short of recommending mandatory labelling of GM foods, saying the government should support that only for issues of food health and safety. The NDP committee members filed a dissenting report on that point. […] Read more
