Feature Articles
Addressing Market Access of New Agricultural Biotechnologies
With approximately 80 per cent
of Canadians saying they support
biotechnology, the outlook for
farmers to play a significant role in
addressing some of the world’s most
pressing challenges is good.
That’s important because today’s challenges – like food shortages in developing countries and concerns about energy and the environment – are only going to increase as the world population rises to over 9 billion in a few short decades.
While consumer acceptance in Canada – and indeed in many countries – is high, Canadian farmers and exporters face other challenges to ensure Canadian biotech crops are able to move into foreign markets.
For example the European Union recently restricted shipments of a Canadian crop after trace amounts of genetically modified material were found, despite the fact the material in question had been approved for human consumption under Canada’s internationally respected science-based regulatory system.
This scenario is likely to become increasingly common because technology is so advanced the low level presence of just one genetically modified seed in a sample of 10,000 can be detected, making Canadian exporters vulnerable to extreme and unwarranted financial burdens. Read more »