The Rural Voice, 2000-03, Page 56BRUCE
Email: bruce@ofa.on.ca
website: www.ofa.on.ca/bruce
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
' The Rural Voice is provided to Bruce
County Farmers by the BCFA.
Recently, we had an interesting
conversation in our kitchen
concerning the serving of GMOs in
the school cafeteria and human genes
in fish. This conversation confirmed
for me the lack of research
information available to the general
public concerning the food they are
consuming, and as a producer this is
frightening. The following article
contains excerpts from our daughter's
biology essay that may offer some
food for thought concerning the
importance of being aware 'of
research results. For further
information you may be interested in
Research magazine on line:
http://www.uoguelph.ca/research/
publications and a recent Angus Reid
survey titled "International
Awareness and Perceptions of
Genetically Modified Food" on line:
http://www.angusreid.com
The Awareness of Research is as
Important as the Research Itself.
Due to the lack of public
information and education, the
importance of research in our daily
lives is underestimated and
misunderstood: We need to
understand and appreciate the value
ofi research whether in disease
prevention or economically priced
foods. Biotechnology and genetic
advancement in agriculture have been
controversial issues over the past
decade; the public has targeted
agriculture and its practices. Research
is helping to meet the demands of the
ever-increasing population by
increasing crop yields per acre. The
need to eat is universal and
agriculture has a history of
responding to the needs around the
globe, with increased wheat yields
and countering diseases in Mexican
beans. As genetic codes are being
unravelled, farmers' fields are being
turned into living laboratories as
biotechnology has pointed to new
methods of progress.
A strong foundation has been
formed between health and
agricultural food concerns, which has
opened the doors for new
collaboration between government,
54 THE RURAL VOICE
Research and GMOs
universities, businesses and
industries. These partnerships will
help to increase public awareness and
involvement in the research process.
Research work continues to make a
difference in the lives of consumers
today, and the general public for the
most part is interested in knowing
about the processes of research.
Public awareness of research will
help the consumer to relate to, and
understand, biotechnology such as
the introduction of a gene into a plant
in order to make changes to the plant.
The availability of the research
results to the public will help
consumers as they strive to make
informed choices.
As well, extensive research allows
scientists and professors to draw
conclusions much faster, providing
farmers with knowledge and tools for
high quality production. This
information affects the consumer at
the grocery store. Consumers deserve
to be made aware of the research that
is going on and the benefits
associated with it. As well, openness
and public awareness must 'be a
crucial part of the research program's
goal and this research must be well
publicized and reported on.
Biotechnology is producing results
such as diverse crop varieties and
new research processes. It is the
proceeds from these developments
that are so important to help support
new research activity. For example
depending on the year, only about 15
to 18 per cent of the University of
Guelph's approximately $80 million
research cost comes from the private
sector. This counters the belief that
manufacturers of the technology or
self-interest groups have provided
much of the information on the
research. The majority of the funds
($45 million) comes from the
OMAFRA and federal granting
councils such as Natural Sciences and
Engineering Research Council
Research, Cosmic Crops. University
of Guelph, July 1999, Pages 18,19).
However, it is time, trust and
balanced communication that will
make the consumer truly comfortable
with their decisions regarding
biotechnology. To put the consumers
at ease there is a need to have access
to research at 411 stages in order to
make well educated decisions about
the type of research consumers
choose to support or not support.
Facts from the research information
will allow the public to adequately
choose whether or not to plant,
process, and consume genetically
enhanced products.0
— Jayne Dietrich, 1st Vice President
Bruce County Federation of
Agriculture
BRUCE COUNTY FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE
Directors' Meeting
Monday, March 27, 2000 — 8:00 p.m.
OMAFRA Boardroom, Walkerton
Members are welcome to attend
FIRST AID ON THE FARM COURSES
Designed For Farm Families!
Tuesday, February 29
& Tuesday, March 7 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m Formosa
Tuesday, March 14 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ...St. John House, Hanover
Wednesday, March 15 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m Walkerton Town Library
Thursday, March 16 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Chesley Fire Hall
Topics: Farm hazards, artificial respiration, choking, shock, wounds and bleeding, head and spinal
injuries, eye injuries, emergency scene management, unconsciousness, burns and poisoning.
Cost: $25 — $5 for children 14 and under accompanying an adult. Lunch included.
Call St. John Ambulance 364-7004 or 1-800-337-4228 to register.