by Ann Cleary

When spring comes each year, either early or late (as this year), it is always difficult for organic growers to have a moment to spare for such things as biotechnology, genetic engineering and all the other ills that beset us, but nonetheless it is more than important that we should be concerned with them. For although much has been going on in the field of ag/biotech, we have not really noticed it until now when it may be too late for our opinion to carry weight.

It has always seemed strange that the very people who produce the one product that is essential to everybody – food – should have so little power or control over agricultural processes. Undoubtedly the growers were all too busy producing food to realize what was happening; and so, with the introduction of middlemen, priests, witch doctors, manorial lords, the military and now corporations, the power all fled to almost everybody except the producer.

As far back as 1982, the federal government had established a National Biotechnology Strategy sector which has now drawn together all the biotech networks into a National Biotechnology Networks Secretariat. This is serviced by the Merlin Group of Consultants to provide secretarial support to the seven biotech networks (4500 members) included in it. There will be provision for two teams of personnel – a "core team" as required and a "supplementary team" of specialists to work at the discretion of the board of directors.

The seven biotech networks with a centralized support function will promote interaction among academic, business, general public and government communities and will be concerned with the development and commercialization of biotech products. The sectors are as follows:

1. BIONET: Concentrates on issues relating to human and animal health.

2. BIOREM (Rhizosphere Enhancing Micro-organisms): Promotes research technology and communication for enhancing plant growth and productivity with the use of microorganisms such as bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides and bio-remediation.

3. BIOZOOTECH: Pertains to agriculturally important animals.

4. BIOQUAL: Promotes the use of biotechnology to reduce, control, prevent or eliminate environmental contamination.

5. BIOCROP: Promotes plant biotech-nology, disseminating information on novel technologies as applied to crop improvement in Canada.

6. AQUATECH: Promotes and commercializes aquatic organisms and nurturing the development and growth of Canadian biotech enterprises to meet global competition.

7. BIOFOR: Promotes the use and development of forest biotech-nology, covering tree genetics, productivity, forest products and processing, and environmental protection. Focuses on thematic meetings on important or emerging issues.

It will be seen from the above that the concerns of the new Secretariat are concerns of ours; it seems that Canadian Organic Growers has not been overly represented at past public meetings and forums, nor have our views been much entertained when we have been present. Nevertheless, we must do our utmost to have input into coming events as we know of them. The fees for some of the past bionet conferences have been beyond our means and it is not only time but money that prevents us from attending. We await with interest the future public meetings that they are envisioning. The new Secretariat has published its first bilingual bulletin, Your Biotechnology News, asking for suggestions as to a better title.

There are those who think that ag/biotech will boost demand for organic products. Much will depend on labeling, still under discussion and unobserved. It is imperative that we have access to unmodified seeds, plants and trees, or conversely those things that are genetically engineered must be labeled so that we have the choice, as will the consumer. Are the ag/biotech people afraid of labeling in case it destroys their market? BST (rBGH) milk in the U.S. has not been a howling success. We must fight as best we can not to have these outlandish technologies imposed on us.

World Food Summit

This global conference on Food Security will be held in Rome, November l3-l7, 1996. Prior to that date, network meetings to prepare for it are being held all over the world. This will be a very important event, especially for NGOs whose voices are already being raised against biotechnology.

For instance, in Wilder Forest, Minnesota, a meeting was held earlier this year of two dozen NGOs from Canada and the U.S., hosted by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. A charter on food security was issued and planned documentation for further action focused on the Summit, institutional reform and long-term global food security. The Director of RAFI (the Rural Advancement Foundation International U.S.A.) noted that "after years of talk, it is time for a farmer-led approach to sustained food security. We must understand that the enhancement of farmer and indigenous community knowledge is the cornerstone of tomorrow’s agriculture and medicine, and is the building block for lasting environmental security." Marcia Ishii-Eiteman of the Pesticide Action Network called attention to the fact that "the promotion of chemical pesticides, hybrids and genetically engineered crops by North American interests poses a grave threat to food security worldwide. Pesticide misuse destabilizes agricultural systems, and destroys biological diversity – the essence of farmer-led sustainable development" (as quoted by the WSSA Newsletter, Spring 1996).

Above all, we must keep "fix-it" technologies away from the world’s centers of biodiversity. We must practice biodiversity in our growing by saving seeds, buying heirloom seeds and supporting Seeds of Diversity Canada.

A great many people attending the Rio Conference found the alternative NGO's program vital and interesting. From the preliminary reports of the World Food Summit Conference, regional and national, the same spirit seems to be surfacing. Perhaps non-conventional farmers will light the way to policies opposing the hyper, feverish treadmill we are all on; to the real understanding that small is beautiful, slow is beautiful, and beauty itself comes from love and caring for each other and the planet, all worthy pursuits of human need.

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