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How To Avoid Gentically Engineered Food - A Greenpeace Shoppers Guide

 

Check out Greenpeace has published a Canadian guide listing specific food products that contain GMOs. http://gmoguide.greenpeace.ca/shoppers_guide.pdf

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Just finished listening to an interview with Patrick Moore, ex Greenpeace scientist, that was posted on Farms.com (http://agvisiontv.farms.com/default.aspx?vid=vid_1272010153253000). He has become a poster boy for the backlash against environmentalists. Too bad he has swung too far the other way. While I agree with some of his criticisms, his arguments are simplistic. Threats from pesticides and GMOs go beyond concerns about cancer to concerns about nervous disorders, allergies, and so on.

True Greenpeace and other orgs like PETA are overly confrontational and sensationalist and end up alienating more pragmatic environmentalists. However, this guide from Greenpeace is a good indication that they are redefining themselves and engaging in practical work. It is a useful guide for people whether they are concerned about GMOs for health, ecological or ethical reasons. Whether GMOs are a real threat or not, foods containing them should be labeled. Since they are not, this guide helps people be informed. I am actually surprised by how many options there are to buy foods not containing GMOs.

Dr. Moore's support for GMOs is disappointing though. It is not unequivocal that GMOs are inherently safe. Admittedly, I am not a scientist and not up to date on all GMO related science, but there are health concerns about allergies, and the fact that GE DNA permeate the entirety of GM plants and thus are absorbed into the cells of those who consume the plants. In other words, GE DNA are persistent. This may impact the body in many unpredictable ways. Then there is the persistence in the environment which leads to resistance: Amaranthus has developed resistance to glyphosate, canola is becoming a superweed, moths may develop resistance to Bt, etc. These are real proven concerns. Of course, there is also the debate that GE is a tool for profiteering for Pharmaceutical companies. I personally don't want to make such broad accusations, but while I am sure most supporters of GE have good intentions for farmers and eaters, profiting and control may also be a driving force.

Dr. Moore talks about Golden Rice. Here is an area where I do have some knowledge as I have done research in Asian countries about traditional ag practices. Vitamin A deficiency became a problem with the Green Revolution. While the Green Rev made huge breakthroughs in increasing production of staples such as rice, in the process it destroyed very nutritionally important "uncultivated" foods. Prior to this time, farmers collected weeds and other leafy greens and even fish and frogs from rice paddies. These were significant sources of nutrition including protein and VITAMIN A. Herbicides and pesticides and fertilizers destroyed this source of food nutrition. So Golden Rice is not a solution: it treats a symptom and compounds a problem.

In term of other pesticides, again, the threat is more than just cancer but other health concerns. But there is also the toll on the environment: destroying soil life and structure which leads to erosion and pest problems, and the destroying of water quality, not just for water life, but for human use.

Of course, this discussion can go on and on, and I am not the one in a position to argue with Dr Moore as I am not a scientist, but I am not naive either.

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Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Soybean Fungicide Decisions

As soybean crops move into flowering, questions are sure to be raised about whether fungicide applications are needed. In anticipation, let’s take a closer look at the potential disease threats and what Manitoba On-Farm Network research has told us. What Should We Be Concerned About? Foliar diseases infecting soybeans in Manitoba typically occur at low severity levels and are not expected to impact yield most years. These usually include bacterial blight, downy mildew and Septoria brown spot. Stem diseases generally have a greater impact on yield. White mould: infections begin at nodes along the main stem. Wilted plants may be spotted from afar, within a humid canopy may find white mycelial growth and black sclerotia bodies later in the season. This disease is the main target of fungicide applications. Cool, wet conditions throughout July and August favour white mould. For every 10% increase in the percent of plants infected with white mould, 2-5 bu/ac of yield are lost in soybeans.

Fungicide Decision Tool for Managing Mycosphaerella Blight in Field Peas

When your peas have reached V10 (10th node stage), it is an ideal time to start scouting each field to evaluate if a fungicide application to manage Mycosphaerella blight is warranted. Continue scouting for symptoms from V10 (10th true node) to R2 (beginning bloom), during mid-June to late July. Mycosphaerella (Ascochyta) blight is the most widespread and economically damaging foliar disease of Manitoba field peas. Peas are the single host crop of Mycosphaerella but it can be managed by foliar fungicide. This pathogen can be stubble-, air-, soil- and seed-borne. Spores can travel long distances by air, meaning there is a disease risk even in fields where peas have not been grown previously. The impact of disease severity on yield will depend on how early the disease sets in and how quickly it progresses into the upper crop canopy. Early infections during the bloom to early/mid-pod stages cause the most damage if left untreated. Use this fungicide decision worksheet when scouting to

Manitoba pork, canola producers hold steady amid heavy tariffs

A slab of back bacon from Natural Raised Pork comes with a waitlist. Ian Smith points to tariffs. Since the United States placed levies on imports from Canada, Manitobans have increasingly been calling Smith about his farm near Argyle, some 40 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. “There’s more people wanting to support local and I’m one of few people that do what I’m doing,” said Smith, 62. He estimates 90 per cent of his pork products are bought by Manitoba households; the latter goes to a packing plant. Last year, it was a 50-50 split. Smith works alone, hustling to meet the four-to-six week waitlist that’s accumulated. He keeps hundreds of feeder pigs and a couple dozen sows; it’s a relatively small operation, he noted. “If there’s any mistakes to be made, there’s only one person to blame and that’s me,” he said with a laugh. Smith doesn’t export to China — so he’s shielded from that nation’s levies still hanging over the Canadian industry.

KAP Welcomes Appointment of New U.S. Trade Representative

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) welcomes the appointment of Richard Madan as Manitoba’s new trade representative to the United States. “We commend Premier Kinew and Minister Moses for making Manitoba’s voice a priority in Washington, D.C.,” said KAP President Jill Verwey. “We look forward to working with Mr. Madan to advance the interests of Manitoba farmers and the agricultural industry, ensuring these interests are at the forefront of his work as he forges stronger relationships with American policymakers and trade officials.” Agriculture is an important part of Manitoba’s economy, with $4.29 billion in agri-food exports to the U.S. alone in 2024, and KAP sees the new presence in Washington as instrumental in fostering strategic relationships with key states that are important to our trade interests. “The U.S. is Manitoba’s largest agri-food export destination and is one of Manitoba’s key trading partners on the international stage,” added KAP General Manager Colin Hornby. “

2025 Annual General Meeting

On Wednesday, June 18th, the Ontario Farmland Trust hosted its Annual General Meeting. The meeting was held hybrid again this year, with members and friends joining both virtually and in person.

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