Feature Articles
Zero Tolerance is Unrealistic
Paying close attention to the decisions made by governments around the world is crucial when it comes to plant biotechnology products because it could affect the producers' bottom line, according to one Alberta seed farmer.
"Most of the canola in Canada is biotech," stated Greg Stamp, manager of Stamp Seeds. "Genetic modification is a tool in the researchers' tool box, and it lets us grow new varieties that benefit the world."
Unfortunately, countries in the European Union continue to rally loudly against the advent of these new products. This resistance to modified varieties persists, despite a host of research showing the potential benefits of plant science.
While these countries certainly have the right to make that choice, Stamp says it seems they occasionally go too far in taking a political stand, without fully considering the consequences to producers on both sides of the pond.
For example, this fall, the EU turned away Canadian shipments of mustard, flax and soybeans because minute amounts of genetically modified materials were found in the product. Testing techniques today are capable of detecting one seed in 10,000. , "Even a microscopic amount of modified materials could show up in a test," said Stamp.
While all efforts are made to ensure there are no GMO products in shipments, it is essentially impossible to guarantee zero per cent presence because trace amounts can be transferred unknowingly.
For example, even in a fully washed sea container, minute amounts of material may stick to the surface and become embedded in product. Testing of a small sample may then affect the acceptance of the entire shipment.
Unfortunately, this zero tolerance policy is not only unrealistic, it also has serious economic consequences. Rejecting shipments not only affects Canadian producers, it affects commodity traders, importers and feed and livestock producers in the European Union who rely on these specific materials to meet their customers' needs.
"Losing a shipment means losing money, and everyone – from farmers to big companies to people who invest in new technology – deserves to make money," claimed Stamp.
According to Stamp, agriculture, already a key industry globally, will become even more critical as the world population grows. "We will need more food, and more nutritious food," he claimed. "Biotechnology is a critical tool in helping to meet this need."
For example, drought resistant materials, nutritionally fortified grains and other advancements are providing real benefits to people in some of the poorest countries in the world.
"This hard, zero tolerance stance on modified materials by some countries continues to make it tough for farmers, including Canadian farmers, to meet the needs of a variety of markets," said Stamp.
What is the answer?
"Tolerance. Governments and regulators in Canada and throughout the world must recognize the challenges facing producers, and adopt a low level presence standard," he claimed. "Yes, we should work hard to maintain stringent standards, but we must also allow for the trace amounts of material that can appear in any product."
Governments can often get so caught up in playing politics that they forget about the producers' bottom line.
"To us, though, zero tolerance is not simply a political statement. It is a serious part of our livelihood," he explained. "If governments and regulators would work together to establish realistic – yet still stringent – guidelines, it would benefit producers around the world."