Agriculture Forum held at UPEL sy sandra tamiston- reporter

This past Wednesday evening, eight different opinions on genetically modified organisms and what they mean for PEI were heard

in Duffy as part of the Fourth

Annual Public Forum on the State of the Prince Edward Island Environment, hosted by the UPEI Environmental Studies program.

But what exactly are geneti- cally modified organisms, or GMOs as they are commonly called?

In the simplest terms that this English major can muster, GMOs are grown from seeds that possess genetic material from other plants and organisms. GMOs used for agricultural purposes are modi- fied to be insect or weed resistant, although genetic modification is also used for the development of pharmaceuticals and for adding nutrients to various grains, fruits, and vegetables. The genetic engi- neering is made possible by using recombinant DNA and other trans- genic techniques. For additional general information on GMOs check out

But what do GMOs mean for PEI? This question. is exactly what Wednesday’s forum explored.

The first six speakers repre- sented various organizations. with similarly varied opinions on GMOs. Each presenter was asked to talk for ten minutes and in that time was expected to examine the environ- mental risks/benefits of GMOs, the social, cultural and economic fac- tors involved, possible health con- cerns, and what PEI should do about this pressing issue.

Hon. Pat Binns, Premier of PEI, spoke first. Binns talked about agricultural issues on PEI, the growth of the organic market, and various studies done in other parts of the world on the effects of

GMOs. Binns offered no specific opinion on GMO’s, but did note that PEI is different from most other areas because it is an island.

Binns ended his ten minutes with this thought: “Can the two industries [organic and GMO] exist side by side? I honestly don’t know.”

The second presenter, Allan Ling, spoke from a pro-GMO stand- point. Ling, owner of Lingdale Farms and President of the Atlantic Grains Council, cited economics as his reason for favoring GMOs. He also stated his belief in modern sci-

ence and technology, claiming the

benefits from biotechnology are only just beginning.

Perry Schmeiser, a grain and oilseed farmer from Saskatchewan, spoke strongly against GMOs. Schmeiser has been the center of the

highly controversial court case with

the company Monsanto. Schmeiser, a conventinal farmer, was sued. by Monsanto for growing genetically modified canola, the patent to which is held by Monsanto. Schmeiser claimed that he had not stolen the GMO canola seeds, but that the seeds were mixed in with his own due to wind carriage and birds. The first trial settled in favor of Monsanto, but is now being reviewed by the Supreme Court. According to Schmeiser, companies like Monsanto pose a double threat: Monsanto’s seeds contaminate the non-GMO seeds, and then Monsanto sues the farmers for that same contamination. Schmeiser raised the questions in his presentation of who has the right to patent higher life forms, what are the dangers of eating GMO foods, what are the environmental risks of GMOs (claiming that GMOs help create superweeds that require addi- tional pesticides to control), and

who is going to protect the conven- tional farmer.

John Argisle of BioAtlantech followed Schmeiser with a pro-GMO presentation. Argisle, like Ling, cited economic factors as his reason for supporting GMOs and claimed that no no sig- nificant research against GMOs exists. Argisle held the opinion that most anti-GMO stances are the result of misinformation and mass fear. Dr. Bert Christie, profes- sional agrologist, was the last of the first five speakers. Christie claimed that GMO technology has great potential, but that the present GMO foods on the market hold no bene- fits for the consumer. Dr. Christie spoke about the health, food safety, and environmental risks of GMOs, focusing on the creation of super- weeds due to GMO resistance to regular weeds. Christie also stated that he felt much more extensive

‘research needed to be done by inde-

pendent organizations and not by private companies who had eco- nomic interests in the success of GMOs. Three farmers from PEI also had a chance to speak. Raymond Loo, president of the PEI Certified Organic Producers Co-op, claimed that the organic and GMO indus- tries could not exist side by side because organic seeds would be contaminated by GMO seeds.

Loo also stressed the need to act quickly in order to prevent any

_ further contamination, stating, “It is

time for us to take our destiny into our’ own hands to do something truly wonderful for our Island.” Danny Hendricken, District President of the PEI National Farmers Union, shared a similar opinion, comparing what he called blind faith in technology to the cru-

UPEI Cadre April 5, 2004 page 14

-sades of the Middle Ages. He said

that pro-GMO groups have the idea that anyone opposed to GMOs needed to be converted or removed. Hendricken also stressed the neces- sity of holding the provincial and federal governments accountable for what he already felt were the bad effects of GMOs.

Robert MacDonald, President of the PEI Federation of Agriculture spoke last, professing a pro-GMO stance, claiming that there was much misinformation against GMO’s and that PEI would be at a huge disadvantage if it chose to be a GMO-free province.

The evening ended with var- ious questions to the presenters from the audience regarding GMOs.

These seem to be the key questions asked about GMOs: Are they harmful? If so, in what ways? Are the economic benefits worth the possible risks? Does PEI have to conform to be like the rest of the agricultural world, or can it survive through the novelty of being the only GMO- free province? Does a corporation have the right to patent life? Can organic and GMO indus- tries exist side by side?

.No matter what the out- comes, Pamela Courtenay-Hall, professor of Philosophy and teacher in the UPEI Environmental Studies programs puts it best when she says, “On the topic of GMOs in agricul- ture, we have at least as much to learn from farmers as from scien- tists and ethicists.”

Discussions such as UPEI’s Forum on Wednesday help make such sharing of knowledge possible,

helping PEI to reach a decision that

is best for PEI and its people.