Modified corn seeds sow doubts

[ensho]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/modified-corn-seeds-sow-doubts/article1240469/


Consumer groups worry Health Canada 'abdicated its responsibility' to test seeds' safety



Next spring, farmers in Canada will be able to sow one of the most complicated genetically engineered plants ever designed, a futuristic type of corn containing eight foreign genes.

With so much crammed into one seed, the modified corn will be able to confer multiple benefits, such as resistance to corn borers and rootworms, two caterpillar-like pests that infest the valuable grain crop, as well as withstanding applications of glyphosate, a weed killer better known by its commercial name, Roundup.

But a controversy has arisen over the new seeds, which were approved for use last month by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Health Canada hasn't assessed their safety.

The health agency said in response to questions from The Globe and Mail that it didn't have to do so, because it is relying on the two companies making the seeds, agriculture giants Monsanto Co. and Dow AgroSciences LLC, to flag any safety concerns. But the companies haven't tested the seeds either, because they say they aren't required to.

-long snip-

Mr. Hansen believes Health Canada's interpretation leaves the country open to possible trade disputes because other jurisdictions, such as Europe, could challenge the Canadian corn by citing a failure to follow the Codex guidelines.
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NO, NO, NO! you can't trust DOW or Monsanto - everybody knows that.

[DCKit]

1. Aside from the fact that the S.O.'s GM corn tortillas give me the shits.....

I'm thinking "NO". I can eat heritage corn all day without having a bathroom emergency.

Since I can't be accused of attacking anyone directly on this thread (too early), I will say "eat it, and die" to those who believe chemical/factory agriculture is our best use of the planet.

[DCKit]

2. And to be a COMPLETE dick....

anyone who's interested can search my last week's posts for my stance on organics and the responses - "Better Living Through Chemicals" should have gone out in the fifties, but it's alive and well on DU.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. You bring up a good point, Person WhoJust Signed Up.

Of course, once you've been here long enough to know better, you realize that the "ministers of disinformation" are really the garden-variety pre-literates, whoring their woo. And it's always the same old usual suspects, if you take a gander at their screen names.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Yes, I remember those posts.

You made several scientific claims, but were unable to support them.

What's wrong with "better living through chemistry?"

[Hekate]

5. Wrong spot

Have a nice day. :hi:

Hekate