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In this age of the World Wide Web we can travel (virtually at least) to any place on earth, learn about people, animals, foods and technologies; imagination is the only limit. Information is available at the push of a button. The wonderful thing is anyone can post anything and add their voice to the Web. The problem is that anyone can post anything – true or not. Critical thinking skills are crucial in order to avoid being swept away by numerous sites that try to pass off ‘pseudoscience’ as the real thing. Biotechnology (and specifically genetic modification or engineering) is a target for environmental groups like Greenpeace. One can only speculate about their motivation. With recent demand for labelling of foods produced through genetic modification (GM), opposition to the technology seems to be seeping into the public vernacular. Arguments opposing labelling are many: GM is a process, not a product; labelling is normally reserved for safety issues (e.g. allergens); labelling would imply that these products pose a risk, even though countless studies have shown that they are safe. In this part of the world, GM crops such as canola have reduced pesticide use, with higher production rates, reduced soil erosion and increased carbon capture thanks to the practice of zero-till. The technology has had a huge impact on our environment, on the lives of farmers and on the provincial economy. In the developing world, GM technology can literally save lives and mean the difference between whether a farmer can feed his or her family or send his children to school. One example is Golden Rice, modified to contain high levels of beta-carotene in order to prevent vitamin A deficiency, which can lead to blindness and even death. Ag-West Bio works to counter some of the anti-GMO rhetoric through blogs, letters to editors, social media and outreach events, such as Agriculture in the City and National Biotechnology Week. We will continue this effort, working with our partners and drawing on the expertise available to inform the public that biotechnology is a safe and valuable tool, and that the scientific process can be trusted to expose poor quality research. We have compiled the following list of links to websites and blogs that are good sources of information on bioscience, including biotechnology and genetic modification. Please note that clicking on these links will take you away from the Ag-West Bio website, and that we do not control the content of these sites. (If you discover a broken link, please let us know!)
Applied Mythology - Steve Savage
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Jackie Robin
Communications Director
Ag-West Bio
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Genetic ModificationVaccinesGenomicsGreen technologyEnvironmentBusinessFoodNatural Health ProductsRegulatoryResearchFarmingHealth.OutreachEducationBulletinBlog
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