HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-11-05, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5,1997.
Bio-tech, friend or foe to farmers?
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
Is bio-technology a friend or foe
to farmers?
This was the ques
tion posed by Dr. Gord
Surgeoner, a professor
at the University of
Guelph, as guest
speaker of the Huron
County Federation of
Agriculture's annual
meeting on Friday
night, Oct 24 in
Seaforth.
Comparing it to all
other agricultural rev
olutions, Surgeoner
says that the science of bio-technol
ogy has an emphasis on controver
sy. With controversy comes risks
and benefits. "It is here now, and in
my opinion it is going to change
agriculture . Now we have to ask
how."
Bio-technology, he said, is in a
way, an old science. Surgeoner
used tomatoes as an example and
"the huge plethora that had been
created from selected parental
types."
"We've been breeding for genera
tions. What is new is that we now
move genetic material between
species."
Surgeoner said that the genetic
information from wheat chromo
somes would fill enough pages to
equal a 27-storey building. "If you
took two parents and shuffle the
deck, you could do years of back-
crossing to get the traits you want.
Now we can pick very particular
traits in those pages and put it into
the next parental line, so that in one
generation we can have the types of
plant we want."
Not only can science take the
trait of one plant and put it into
another, it can also do the same
with animals. "This raises a number
of ethical issues to deal with," says
Surgeoner. However, on the plus
side it allows bio-technologists to
look at things, such as what keeps
crocuses from freezing and see if
that can be put into the com plant
to increase its hardiness to frost.
"I think it's a huge revolution.
Whether it is a friend or foe
depends on how we use it. We need
to set up a system to minimize risk
and maximize the benefits.
Everything humans do has
an element of risk."
Keeping open dialogue on
this issue is important, Sur
geoner says. "We need to
discuss the risks, but
emphasize the benefits and
how to manage the risks.
Bio-technology is very
much here and it's going to
continue to grow whether
we in this room would want
it to or not."
While few are concerned
about the use of bio-technology
where plants are concerned, ani
mals is another argument. "This is a
whole continuum to deal with and
we have to look at where we reside
on that continuum."
Surgeoner said that pharmaceuti
cal and seed industries are coming
together in the area of bio-technol
ogy. While many are upset that it is
big companies doing this, Surgeon
er feels it makes sense. "If some
thing goes wrong they have the
liability. Also, they are not going to
risk something on a product that is
not good."
What farmers have to look at is
what the returns will be for them,
he said For value, farmers want:
•lower input costs
higher quality product
higher yields
the creation of new markets
risk reduction
Bio-technology will be a benefit
to consumers, Surgeoner says, for
everything from a longer shel-life
for ripe tomatoes to a resistance to
the potato beetle.
Using canola as an example of
recent bio-technology advances,
Surgeoner said that two years ago
the value of canola exceeded the
value of wheat on the prairies. In
1982, he said, that crop didn't exist
as canola, but as rape seed.
The introduction of new products
means new markets, Surgeoner
notes. For example 2,000 acres of
canola in Western Canada was
grown strictly for the cosmetic
industry.
"There are all kinds of products
coming down the pipeline. While
we are dealing a lot now with the
agronomic products, those for the
farmer, the next generation of prod
uct is going to be for the con
sumers."
Bio-technology, he says, will
also open the doors of international
trade.
One of the potential risks of bio
technology, Surgeoner says, is of
taking an allergen from something,
such as a nut, into another crop.
"However, I'm very happy to say
food goes through a stringent regu
latory process and I emphasize the
ability to get rid of allergens, to flip
it and turn it off.”
Labelling is difficult as determin
ing what exactly has been bio-tech-
nologically produced is not clearly
defined. "Is the cow that ate bio
tech com a product of bio-tech?"
"I agree people have a right to
say they don't want to eat some
thing. To me it is no different than
organic food. If someone wants to
pay the differential, then there's no
problem."
He then showed on a projector
two examples of tomato paste sold
in England, that are bio-tech prod
ucts. "To me if something is five
cents less, if it looks like tomato
paste, tastes like it, they’ll try it
once and if they like it they're
going to use it."
"I guess at the end of the day in
Ontario, it’s a tool, for our business
which is agriculture. Each should
make their individual decision.
They will hopefully analyze and
see if they got value by making that
decision."
Surgeoner says that both as indi
viduals and a society people must
determine where they want to sit in
this chain."Change is frightening,"
says Surgeoner. "But to hide from
risk is to hide from its potential
rewards."
"And remember comfort comes
from those we agree with."
VOTES FROM BRUSSELS
RALPH WATSON
for Reeve
I'll negotiate the best deal as
we restructure & refinance to maintain
our quality of life
Vote for Ralph November 10th
Trustees hear OPSBA view on strike
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
With the court turning down an
injunction to force teachers back to
the classrooms, the battle for power
and control in the education system
goes on.
However, for the administration
and staff at the Huron County
Board of Education, the matter of
dealing with parental complaints
and worried inquiries regarding the
strike is a daily occurrence.
Director of Education Paul Car
roll repeated his affirmation a the
Nov. 3 meeting, that the board does
not condone an illegal strike.
“We have advised all staff that
they are in violation of the collec
tive agreement and will not be paid
for not being at work,” he said.
“They have also been told that the
loss of pay does not preclude any
other disciplinary action which may
be undertaken.”
“We are prepared to proceed with
legal action as is appropriate, time
ly and necessary.”
From the perspective of the
OPSBA, Trustee Joan Van den
Broeck, Goderich and Colbome
Twp., made a presentation to the
board outlining points of con
tention in Bill 160, the flashpoint
for the strike.
Unlike what is often discussed by
those outside the issue. Van den
Broeck said the fight over Bill 160
is not about class size, curriculum
or report cards. Very little of the
bill deals with those issues, she
said.
Relating information from
OPSBA President Lynn Peterson,
Van den Broeck said, “Bill 160
confers extreme and absolute
power to one minister and the cabi
net.”
After reading the bill several
times, Peterson said, in a news
release, that she saw nothing sub
stantial that would improve educa
tion in the province.
An OPSBA information package
outlines several points of disagree
ment with Bill 160.
Th first was the centralization of
power and Ynoney. Local board
would have no power to invest tax
dollars in programs requested by
local parents. All decision would be
made by the ministry.
Another funding issue arose
when there was no provision made
for funds during the transition to
the new district school boards.
A new funding allocation model
is yet to be announced, disabling
the boards’ ability to budget limit
dollars.
The boards are also being asked
to be accountable while having no
authority to make decisions, said
OPSBA.
The bill would give the govem-
ment control over the financial and
operational affairs of the board,
through regulation, though these
regulations have yet to be
announced.The OPSBA expressed concern
over the use of regulatory powers.
The organization also stated dis
approval for the method by which
collective agreements or bargaining
disputes would be handled under
Bill 160. The issues of first eon-
tracts, the cope of bargaining,
teachers contracts and occasional
teachers were reviewed.
In summarizing the 260-page Bill
160, OPSBA put together a 25-
page synopsis covering portions of
the bill which were unacceptable,
including 20 recommendations.
OPSBA has suggested the com
mission which reviews over- regu
lation in Ontario, take a complete
look at Bill 160 for possible reduc
tions.
They are also seeking to limit the
powers bestowed on the govern
ment.
The government is being asked to
establish a consultation process to
those involved in the education sys
tem are able to provide input.
As trustees have no individual
authority, OPSBA has recommend-
ed the section dealing with individ- \
ual liability be removed. m
School boards want continued
access to the tax base to allow 0^
Continued on page 19
photo by Frank Phillips
RYAN ~ SLOAN
Peggy Anne Ryan and Terry Vincent Sloan were united
in marriage on August 8th, 1997 at St. Ambrose Roman
Catholic Church, Brussels by Father Joe Nevett and
Father Tony Delciancio.
Peggy is the daughter of Marianna and John Ryan of
Walton. Terry is the son of Eileen and Tom Sloan of St.
Columban.
Maid of Honour was Monica Ryan of Walton, sister of
the bride. Bridesmaids were Tamara McKellar
Seaforth, friend of the bride, Joyce Devereaux of
Seaforth, sister of the groom and Nicole Klages of
Lucknow, friend of the bride.
Best Man was Jason Schoonderwoerd of London, friend
of the groom. Groomsmen were Jason Dietz of Mitchell,
friend of the groom, Joe Ryan of Walton, brother of the
bride and Wayne Regele of Winthrop, friend of the
groom.
Flowergirls were Terri Lyn, Kristen and Deanna
Devereaux, nieces of the groom
Candlelighters and Readers were Sandra Reekie of
Kitchener, sister of the groom and Steve Ryan of
Brantford, brother of the bride. Eucharistic Minister was
Sister Teresa Ryan, aunt of the bride. Organist was
Cheryl St.Onge, soloist was Michelle Elliott and
Violinists were Carol Ann and Madonna McQuaid.
An open reception was held at the B.M. & G. Community
Centre.
The couple now reside in the Seaforth area.
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