Nano-Technology: Manipulating Nature for Agricultural and other Profits

Lastnight I was on greenhousecanada.com, which led me to an article posted by the Toronto Star, about an new Genetically Modified apple, which will not brown when it is sliced. The apple was actually developed by a Canadian biotech company, and is awaiting approval from the U,S, Heres the link :http://www.thestar.com/living/article/898834--gm-apple-won-t-go-bro...

 I am, and for good reason, very skeptical about the long-term affects of GMOs, which bring me to my next point, which I think we as consumers and agriculturalists need to be informed about---Nano-technology (N.T)

If you don't know what this means, youre not the only one. Some people say it is the way of the future, I say it is the way of sure devastation. It seems very little people are aware of what N.T is, how it is being used for every day products in our lives, and how it will affect us in the long-term. 

The National Nano-technology Initiative technically defines N.T as :

1. Research and tehcnology development at the atomic level

2. Creating and using structures that have novel properties and functions because of their size

3. The ability to manipulate and control on the atomic scale

So, this is not just a small effort to boost profits, but it is a nature-altering action with unpredictable outcomes. Although most people can't define N.T, it is currently being used for MANY things, from;

bandages, condoms, cosmetics, sunscreen, toothbrushes,paints, cell phones, the IPOD nano, even vitamins and teddy bears!

There has been a huge push for nano-technology by the health and agricultural industries (can someone say profits?) and it was expected that by this year (2010)the N.T. food market has reached 20.4 billion and 5/10 of the largest food and beverage companies will have invested in this technology R&D. Yes-this means Heinz, Kraft, General Mills.

-What does this mean to farmers?

-What if we disagree with the use of NT? What can we do about it?

If you would like to read more about N.T., I have attached a power point presentation that was given to me at the Organic Conference at U of Guelph in 2008. The presentation was made by Dag Flack, the Organic Program Manager at Natures Food Path Inc. and I found it very helpful in explaining NT.

In this slideshow you will find extensive information about how N.T. works, and effects humans, and the planet, how it threatens organic crops and explains the Soil Association Nano Standard. I hope you enjoy this and I hope it sparks more discussion among the agricultural community.

We need to be more knowledgable about what R&D is being done, and how we can band together to show our disagreeance of the un-natural formation of these products.

Jamie