Dear Editor
Jenny Walls had an articulate and well-researched letter about genetically modified plants (Regional Optimist, April 18) addressing Ron Cox's concerns that he had penned the week before. I doubt Mr. Cox's fears have been assuaged. Although I may agree with his assessment of the quality of corporate sourced information with which Health Canada evaluates the safety of GM plants and foods, I think his fears are largely unfounded. I hope I'm right but I cannot offer any guarantees. Some day some idiot just might introduce peanut allergins into potatoes.
Unfounded or not Mr. Cox is entitled to his concern, as are the millions around the world who share it. This is the immediate problem for agricultural producers, no amount of politically approved science is going to convince people to buy what they don't want to buy. The "golden rice" Walls mentioned gets its colour because it has been genetically altered to produce vitamin A and has the potential to prevent thousands of cases of blindness every year. If there ever was a triumph of GM engineering this should be it, but people still won't buy it. Here too, if GM traits are found even in minute quantities in our exports, those markets can abandon us, as was the case for Triffid flax.
The Harper government cares not that consumers feel safe, that food is wholesome or that producers can control their own industry. It only cares that production can be bound by patent and contract to companies like Monsanto, Cargill and BASF.
Glenn Tait
Meota
