The Rural Voice, 1999-11, Page 49PERTH fillk
County Pork Producers NEWSLETTER
Richard Yantzi, President
519-655-2766
' The Rural Voice is provided to Perth
County Pork Producers by the PCPPA.
Farmers' credibility at stake in GMO debate
Any opinions expressed herein may
not necessarily reflect the views of
the Perth County Pork Producers'
Association.
It's almost impossible to pick up a
newspaper these days without some
story, pro or con, about
biotechnology. Biotechnology, and
all of its implications, is rapidly
becoming the number one food issue
on consumers' minds worldwide. It's
no wonder. The technology has
introduced a proliferation of food
products as companies rush to give us
"new and improved" foods or
ingredients. Is it good or bad?
Obviously, in a world where
hunger is, and will probably continue
to be, a reality for millions of people,
the thought of increased supply from
any source would be welcome. More
affluent countries, on the other hand,
can afford to be more selective in the
foods they choose. Since these
countries, with the bucks to buy our
products, have concerns about
biotechnology, and since we rely on
exports for a substantial portion of
our production, we'd better listen.
To ignore them would certainly be at
our peril.
Countries such as Japan have
placed a ban on genetically modified
organisms (GMO) entering the
country. That could quite easily
extend to, if it hasn't already, foods
produced using GMOs. It is almost
certain that they, along with other
countries, will require some form of
labeling of biotechnologically
produced foods.
Probably some of the better known
examples for pork producers would
be Round -Up Ready soybeans, Bt
Corn, and the development of the pig
with reduced phosphorous output.
Pork produced using these products is
probably quite safe but also
susceptible to the scrutiny of these
concerns.
The argument is, and rightly so,
about the safety of the GMOs.
Unfortunately, the overall safety of
these foods has not been proven
conclusively to the satisfaction of
many consumer groups or advocates.
Powerful voices such as David
Suzuki are entering the debate.
Recently he came out against
biotechnology saying that not enough
is known about the long term effects
of foods produced by adding or
deleting genes.
Federal Health Minister\, Allan
Rock, on the other hand, counters by
saying that all of these foods are
tested by government scientists.
Reassuring?
Hardly, when a bureaucrat in the
Health Ministry says that the ministry
doesn't have the manpower to
actually test all foods, so must rely on
auditing the information supplied by
the companies applying for
approvals.
One can only wonder then, how
spokespeople for AgCare can come
out, guns ablazing, with blanket
approval for biotechnology.
As a farmer and consumer I would
accept that with careful testing the
advances made using biotechnology
are probably in our best interest and
by far the vast majority, if not all, are
likely safe. I certainly hope so.
Also as a farmer I am aware that
the credibility that we once enjoyed
as farmers is being eroded by several
factors, not the least of which would
be environmental issues. Can we
afford a further erosion of that trust
by touting biotechnology as the
saving grace before we know all of
the facts?
It is sure scary to think that a
failure, or long term effect of some
food product. would somehow be
considered to be the thalidomide of
the new millennium.
As a producer, I know that we
must give the customer what he
wants. It that includes assurances
about GMOs then that's what we
have to do. I have been told that
discussions on this issue have been
ongoing by the OPPMB directors
although no final consensus has been
achieved.
I personally agree with the stand
taken by the CFFO when they call for
labeling of all GMOs.
Consumers have the right to make
the final choice.
Other News:
The fall regional meetings of the
OPPMB are coming up. Check with
your local county director for the
meeting that is appropriate to you.
The Perth West council is meeting
in Mitchell on November 3
with concerned ratepayers to discuss
their concerns with the proposed
Nutrient Management By -Law. All
producers would be welcome to
attend.0
PERTH COUNTY PORK PRODUCERS'
PORK PRODUCTS
• Smoked Pork Chops • Fresh Pork Chops
• Stuffed Loin Chops • Smoked Sausage
• Smoked Cheddar Sausage
• Bacon Burgers • Teriyaki Pork Steaks
• Vittorio's BBQ Sauce
AVAILABLE FROM:
Fred de Martines (Sebr.) 393-6812
Martin van Bakel (Dublin) 345-2666
Walter Bosch (Monkton) 356-9000
Ted Keller (Mitchell) 348-9836
NOVEMBER 1999 45