Millions of Canadians in cities acroos the country came out on the weekend to demonstrate against the proliferation of genetically modified organisms.
They joined millions more in 52 countries and hundrerds of cities around the world in what in most cases was called, “March against Monsanto”, targeting the best known of the several giant multinational companies that create GMOs.
The GM plants are in most cases, genetically altered to be resistant to that company’s insecticides and powerful weed killers, such as Monsanto’s “Roundup”, and to produce larger crops.
Beekeepers are also concerned about the insecticide modification in the plants themselves and the use of neonicotinoid insecticide coating on seeds, which they say is killing off bees. At a rally in Toronto, Ontario beekeepers filled a coffin with thousands of bees in front of a large rally of protesters in Queen’s Park Sunday in protest of GMO giant Monsanto
Health concerns, food security,
Critics say the long-term health effects of eating genetically modified foods, or even animals raised on GM feed, are unknown. They also say that profits are the concern of these companies, not the nutritional quality of the crops produced.
There are also concerns about giant companies like Monsanto, BASF, Dupont, Bayer and so on, controlling food supplies with such things as “terminator” seeds which will only grow for one season thereby prevent farmers from saving seeds from their crops to replant a crop next season.
The giant multinationals also aggressively pursue farmers who accidently grow GMO plants from pollen or seed which blows onto their fields, alleging theft. Terry Noel a rally organizer in Edmonton Alberta is quoted in the Edmonton Sun news saying, “Monsanto owns over one thousand patents to genetically modified seeds, Farmers are being sued by Monsanto because of genetic drift contaminating non-GMO crops.”
Organic farmers are especially concerned about losing their organic certification and markets for their products.
Charla Lord, spokeswoman for Monsanto issued a response to the worldwide protests saying, “The 22,000 people of Monsanto are committed to having an open dialogue about food and agriculture – we’re proud of the work we do, and we’re eager for people to know more about us. We’re also proud of our collaboration with farmers and partnering organizations that help make a more balanced meal accessible for everyone. Our goal is to help farmers do this using fewer resources and having a smaller impact on the environment. We know people have different points of view on these topics, and it’s important that they’re able to express and share them.”
Canada’s National Farmers Union has also expressed concern that weeds become resistant to the specific weed killers required by the GM plants, meaning more herbicide is needed thereby increasing costs to farmers and consumers, to the benefit of the multinationals.
Of even greater concern they say is control of the world’s food supply by these corporations. They say genetic diversity and diversity of foods available to consumers. The NFU is currently lobbying against Canada signing the international deal known as UPOV-91 which gives these giants more control over patented seeds and which seeds can be grown by farmers.
Current GM crops in Canada include canola, corn, soy, and sugar beet.
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.