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Biotechnology and Food
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Biotechnology -- the manipulation of genetic material -- has many applications, including medicine, pollution control, and agriculture. The issue raises many ethical, economic, and environmental questions. This factsheet addresses the use of biotechnology in food and agriculture. It summarizes the concerns and the Ontario and Canadian approach to managing the issue, and provides links to websites where you can find more detailed information. Genetically modified (GM) foods are plants that have genes from other plants or animals spliced into them. These plants are rapidly being introduced into Canadian agriculture. Supporters of GM plants claim that they can reduce pesticide use, tolerate extreme environmental conditions (such as drought or salinity), produce a higher yield, and have improved nutritional value. The drawbacks and potential problems associated with GM foods include health risks and allergic reactions to the introduced gene, the creation of herbicide resistant superweeds and superpests, and unintended effects on other species. GM foods are already in widespread use in Canadian agriculture. "Roundup Ready Soybeans" (produced by Monsanto) are designed to tolerate Monsanto's Roundup pesticide, which kills all other plants it comes in contact with. Other examples are cholesterol reduced canola and Bt corn (which produces its own natural insecticide. To find out what plants have been approved, check the list of approved plants on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, website, or ceck the list of approved plants is available on the AGCare website.
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See the
Report of the Royal Society Expert Panel on Food
Biotechnology - Feb 5, 2001 |
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The Ontario government is in the process of developing a biotechnology strategy. No information is available on the internet at this time. The federal government has a biotechnology strategy, which is an economic development strategy with environmental considerations. The Strategy itself is not available online, but there is a background paper available through Industry Canada's "Strategis" website. |
| Current Strategies | |
Published Strategy |
There is no provincial strategy for the
development and management of the biotechnology industry.
A strategy is reported to be under development, but there
is no internet information available. Federal |
Goal |
The federal goal is to enhance the
quality of life of Canadians in terms of health, safety,
the environment and social and economic development by
positioning Canada as a responsible world leader in
biotechnology. |
Targets |
The federal strategy addresses ten themes,
including "regulations to protect health and the
environment". |
Major Activities |
Major activities with respect to
biotechnology include:
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State of the Environment Reporting |
not available |
Public Review |
A Canadian Biotechnology Advisory
Committee has been
set up to advise the federal government on its
biotechnology strategy.
The federal government has asked the
Royal Society to conduct a review of the Future of Food Biotechnology
in Canada. This Royal Society has established an Expert Panel to
study the issue and |
| Overall,
the Canadian approach is to promote the development of
the biotechnology industry at the same time as it
grapples with the difficult issues of ethics and the
potential environmental and health risks. The strategy builds on current
federal investments in biotechnology with an additional $55 million over three years for biotechnology research and
development by science-based departments and agencies. It also
sets up a Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee that will
reflect the broad range of issues and concerns over
biotechnology. Currently, biotechnology research and development appears to be proceeding faster than the provincial and federal government's ability to respond to the potential negative effects, and much faster than the public's awareness of the widespread impact of biotechnology on our food supply. There is an urgent need to develop a comprehensive approach to the issue that will ensure the health and safety of the natural environment and the public, while at the same time addressing farmers' needs to reduce operating costs and providing for a secure and sustainable global food system. The federal strategy and the Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee is an opportunity to develop such an approach. |
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The major activities within Ontario and Canada with respect to genetically modified foods fall into the categories of research, product development, product approval, and stewardship (best practices for using GM products). 1) International -- The Biosafety Protocol Canada has signed the international Convention on Biological Diversity which, under Article 19.4, calls for the signatories to develop a protocol addressing concerns about the potential risks to biodiversity and human health posed by living modified organisms. The Convention also established an open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on BioSafety (BSWG) for the development of a Biosafety Protocol Negotiations on the Biosafety Protocol are ongoing, however a WorldWatch Institute article (April 5, 1999) reports that Canada, along with the United States and four other agricultural exporters, is trying to have agricultural products excluded from the Biosafety Protocol. A broader review of "The Regulation of Agricultural Biotechnology in Canada" is available through the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy.
There are several federal laws and regulations that apply to biotechnology and food. Foremost among them are the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and the Food and Drugs Act.
Approval of New Products An easier to read list of approved plants is available on the AGCare website.
Ontario currently does not play a role in the regulation of biotechnology products.
Research and Development Canada seeks to position itself as a major player in biotechnology research and the development of novel foods. A total of $700 million in government funding has been allocated to biotechnology research ($400 million federal, $250 million provincial, plus $55 million for the National Biotechnology Strategy). Government funding programs talk of the need for "science-based" research. This in itself is a contentious issue for two reasons. First, science alone should not be used to set policy. Risk assessment and ethical considerations should also play a part in determining policy. Second, there are inherent biases and flaws in the process of determining and funding research priorities. According to Dr Ann Clark of the University of Guelph, none of the $700 million in research funds has been earmarked for risk assessment (E Ann Clark, 1999, "Environmental Risks of GE"). Field Applications Voluntary Protocols
Product Labeling Campaigns
Information is readily available via the internet on the plants that are approved for sale. (see "Approval of New Products" above). There is currently no easily-accessible, independent and authoritative source of information on the current use of these products in Ontario and Canadian agriculture, or their effects on the ecosystem and the public. |
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| Prompt action is needed to address
public concerns over the health and environmental impacts of
genetically-modified organisms. These are some of the recommendations
that have been put forward.
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| Place a moratorium on genetically modified foods. |
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Establish a public review of biotechnology in food. |
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Broaden research priorities to include environmental impact assessment. |
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Strengthen the approvals process. |
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Provide for labelling of genetically-modified foods |
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Take an
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| Provincial
Government Biotechnology crosses several jurisdictions. As a result, there is no clear leadership within the provincial government. |
Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs:
Mr Bob Seguin, Assistant Deputy Minister, Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Policy and Farm Finance Division Energy Science and Technology |
| Agencies | Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Office of Biotechnology |
| Federal Government | Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada 's Electronic Information Service |
| Environmental Organizations | Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and
Policy
Council of Canadians: look for the link to their campaigns page to find copies of publications on GM foods. Friends of the Earth (UK): a detailed site on gm foods and a map of test sites across Great Britain. Gene Action: no website found, but you can reach them at geneaction@graffiti.net Greenpeace Canada look for the genetic engineering page under "Campaigns". Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI): packed with information on sustainable agriculture and genetic diversity, with an emphasis on international development. Sierra Club of Canada: their site currently has information only on the bovine growth hormone (BGH) Task Force on the Churches and Corporate Responsibility: TCCR has identified biotechnology as a priority issue. No information is available on their site as yet. |
| Business Associations | BIOTECanada represents the full spectrum of
biotechnology interests in Canada. |
| Companies Some of the members of BIOTECanada. |
Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc. |
| Labour | National
Farm Union (see
below) |
| Agricultural Associations | AGCare
(Agricultural Groups Concerned About the Environment): argues the environmental benefits
of biotechnology National Farm Union is perhaps the one agricultural organization (outside of the organic agriculture groups) that is opposed to the development of biotechnology Ontario Federation of Agriculture: has established a Science and Technology Committee which has endorsed the "responsible use of biotechnology". |
| Other Organizations | Food Biotechnology Communications Network The FBC is a coalition of organizations, companies and governments who are interested in food biotechnology and who support a "science-based" approach to consumer education. University
of Guelph
Royal Society of Canada: The Royal Society is undertaking a review of food biotechnology in Canada. |
