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Garma
Garam More
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Agriculture |
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Thousands of people a month are, according to this story, dialing a national call centre specifically established to dispense information about the use of biotechnology in Canada's agricultural system. Established in 1999, the story says that the Food Biotechnology Centre receives approximately 30,000 calls a month. Julie Lacasse, a dietician who answers some of the calls, was cited as saying the centre is a national, multi-sector, not-for-profit association operated by a bilingual team of food and health professionals who answer questions about biotechnology, genetic modification and transgenics as they relate to Canada's food and agricultural system. Most of the concern over the use of biotechnology in Canadian food production is the result of what nutritionist Lacasse was quoted as calling 'the knowledge gap' adding that, "One of the key aspects of a discussion about biotechnology is that Canadians admit they feel uninformed. People are often critical of the way things are being done, but they lack information about the reasons why we do these things.'' She says the knowledge gap often extends to long-time practices like milk pasteurization or adding Vitamin D to milk. Close to half of all monthly calls (49 per cent) are from consumers, most of whom live in Canada's most urban provinces -- Ontario (50 per cent) and Quebec (13 per cent). Fifty-three per cent of the callers express no opinion on biotechnology. Another 17 per cent are neutral and 16 per cent are somewhat against use of this technology. Murray McLaughlin, president and CEO of Foragen Technology Management Inc. was cited as saying it's important that Canadian consumers take responsibility for learning about how biotechnology impacts food production and food choices and that this research and development occurs in an environment of regulation and control, adding, "I believe Canada has the best regulation system in the world. Can we get rid of the risk associated with science? No. But we can manage that risk and, in Canada, we have a system that manages that risk very well.'' For answers to questions about biotechnology, contact the FBCN at 1-877-366-3246. The lines are staffed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, ET, Monday to Friday. Source: Central Alberta Adviser |
