Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

The CFFO Commentary: Biotechnology Will Remain an Ongoing Discussion for Farmers

By John Clement

April 8, 2011

 

The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario has had a number of long, focused conversations about the role of Genetically Modified Organisms in agriculture. It’s a lightning rod of an issue, with most people either being for or against the use of the technology. Few individuals or groups seem to be comfortable being somewhere in the middle. 

And yet that middle ground is precisely where many CFFO members find themselves feeling most comfortable. Our members started their conversation in 1995 with a seminar series, continued it in 1999 with a position statement and revisited it again just last month at a meeting of delegates. The main discussion points that showed up were how to blend farmer’s natural entrepreneurial tendencies with a stewardship ethic that takes creation care seriously.

 In 1995, the CFFO hosted 18 seminars across the province with a focus on exploring the potential benefits and drawbacks of biotechnology. The impact on the family farm’s viability and the ability to control or regulate biotechnology’s development and impact, along with spiritual and ethical questions about the limits of human activity and crossing species distinctions, were the most important concerns. Yet many also recognized the potential benefits of biotechnology for themselves and society generally, particularly in less controversial areas. The bottom line message from the participants in that seminar series was “proceed if you must, but with caution.” 

In 1999, CFFO members progressed the discussion by adopting a position statement that carried “proceed, but with much more caution” in the title. That position statement carried important components on stewardship, along with an analysis about the benefits and cautions regarding the use of biotechnology. It called for separation and identification of GMO foods throughout the food chain, as well as mandatory labeling and a call for farmers to exercise caution in the use of biotechnology. The statement said “we expect this new production and management tool will create a flood of new opportunities and challenges. They will also challenge our stewardship of God’s creation. New patterns for stewardship will need to emerge.” 

Our members opened up the discussion again at a recent meeting of CFFO delegates from across the province. After reviewing our past statements, members again expressed their satisfaction with the stand the organization has taken in the recent past. But I’m guessing that the conversation is far from over and will continue to pop up on a regular basis in the coming years.  

A statement from a report on the 1995 seminar series says it best: “In the end, strong principles, a limited sense of control, a society with an often contrary agenda, combined with a desire to succeed and participate, appears to lead to a cautious acceptance of biotechnology’s basic direction. In practice, farmers are prepared to examine its products on a case-by-case basis. Yet, this mixture of ambivalence and conviction may prove to be a volatile one. Virtually any response to particular applications of biotechnology is possible --- depending on the issues that surround its production and use.”

 

 

John Clement is the General Manager of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario. The CFFO Commentary represents the opinions of the writer and does not necessarily represent CFFO policy. The CFFO Commentary is heard weekly on CFCO Chatham, CKNX Wingham, and UCB Canada radio stations in Chatham , Belleville , Bancroft, Brockville and Kingston . It is also archived on the CFFO website: www.christianfarmers.org. CFFO is supported by 4,200 family farmers across Ontario.

Views: 50

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

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

ABP Working Groups address key issues

From traceability to trade structure, coal mining to wildlife conflict, ABP has active working groups on four of the most important files facing Alberta beef producers. Here are updates from each of the groups: Traceability Following the direction of resolutions carried by delegates at the 2026 Annual General Meeting, ABP’s board is forming a dedicated Traceability Working Group. The working group will examine traceability closely, with the objective of providing producer-driven feedback and solutions that reflect on-the-ground realities across Alberta’s beef sector. Members of the working group are being finalized, and will include representatives from ABP’s executive, directors and delegates; partner cattle organizations; and groups such as the Government of Alberta. The working group will be supported by a dedicated facilitator to maintain clear timelines, while also ensuring issues are thoroughly examined. The goal is to develop realistic, workable recommendations to present t

What drives the true cost of forage production?

New COP Network benchmarks reveal what drives forage production costs in Canadian cow-calf operations, from hay and silage to greenfeed, and where producers can improve efficiency. Forage is the backbone of every cow-calf operation — but how much does it really cost to grow? While feed is often viewed as a “homegrown” input, the reality is that forage production can make or break cost competitiveness, especially as input costs continue to rise. Data from the Canadian Cow-calf Cost of Production Network show wide differences in the cost of producing forages such as hay, corn silage, corn for grazing, cereal silage, and greenfeed. But the real insight isn’t just what those costs are, it’s why they differ from farm to farm. Forage costs vary, management matters This analysis includes data from 59 COP Network benchmark farms from 2020 to 2024, covering five major forage types — hay, corn silage, corn for grazing, cereal silage, and greenfeed. Hay remains the dominant forage on Canadia

Multiple pickup trucks under recall

Like any piece of farm equipment, pickup trucks are subject to recalls

Most regions hit the home stretch of seeding

Provincial seeding progress is nearly complete as 93 per cent of seed has been put in the ground across Saskatchewan. The latest figure is up from 80 per cent the previous week, but is still behind the five and ten year average of 97 per cent. The west-central region leads the way at 98 per cent complete, the southwest at 97 per cent, the southeast 96 per cent, the northwest 95 per cent and the northeast entered the home stretch at 92 per cent complete. But farmers in the east-central region still have some work to do as progress currently sits at 84 per cent. While it's a large increase from 63 per cent the previous week, it remains behind the five year average of 93 per cent for the region. Crops Extension Specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture Samantha Marcino, who is based out of Yorkton, notes the Calder area had 164 millimetres of rain and the Canora area around 72 mm. "This did increase the topsoil moisture levels, obviously, in those regions, and some of them were sit

Horizon School Division, Nutrien bring hydroponic learning lab to Lanigan students

Students at Lanigan School will soon get their hands dirty while learning about food production and agriculture. Horizon School Division and Nutrien announced this week a partnership that will see the installation of a hydroponic grow container at the school. Director of Education for Horizon Kevin Garinger says they first saw the grow container in Alberta a few years ago, and the one to be established in Lanigan is the first of its kind within the School Division. "Food security is so vital, and I think one of the things that we are trying to do through this process is educate our children about the impact of the work our farmers, our communities, and our big businesses do in support of agriculture in our province and ultimately across our country and world." said Garinger, adding its opportunities like this that can inspire students to pursue a career in agriculture. "If we make that impact, if we make that kind of impact on the ag industry, on our children to understand that the

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service