Field of Genes
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- Reviews
- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
Technology has quietly slipped into the food chain, shifting genes from one life form to another. Multi-national chemical companies have created genetically altered potatoes, corn, soybeans, and canola - that variously are toxic to pests, herbicide tolerant, and dependent on chemical inputs.
The biotechnology industry claims that its new foods have great potential for everyone, including the world's hungry. But skepticism abounds as to whether the hungry, or indeed the family farmer, or even the consumer, will derive substantial benefit from this high-tech, heavily capitalized new mode of production.
'A big question is the tight relationship between the use of genetically altered crop seeds and the corporations that have developed them... Monsanto requires that farmers who grow them sign contracts restricting how they may dispose of excess production and requiring that unused seeds (be) return(ed) to the company...This film strives to present both sides of this sensitive issue in a careful and reasoned way. Highly recommended.' Buzz Haughton, Shields Library, UC-Davis MC Journal
'Given its cautionary bent, this timely, well-shot program is sure to provoke discussion.' Booklist
'A superb introduction...for a high school or college class; for a public teach-in or workshop about the topic; and for educating legislators.' The Maine Organic Farmer and Gardener
'An enlightening look at the evolution of transgenic food and the issues surrounding its production and consumption.' Cathy Schaeff, PhD, Biology Department, American University
Citation
Main credits
Scott, Jennifer (commentator)
Thomson, Janet (film producer)
Distributor subjects
Agriculture; Biotechnology; Canadian Studies; Chemistry; Consumer Issues; Environment; Ethics; Genetically Modified Foods; Genetics; Globalization; Home Economics; Humanities; Hunger; Law; Science, Technology, Society; Social Science; Sustainable AgricultureKeywords
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Brave New World, page 17: Progress, a prodigious
improvement you will agree on nature.
00:00:35.715 --> 00:00:40.090
Aldous Huxley wrote that in 1932.
00:00:43.750 --> 00:00:47.764
But never were his words
more true than today.
00:00:47.765 --> 00:00:51.379
The idea of improving
on nature is no longer
00:00:51.380 --> 00:00:56.820
the staff of futuristic novels
because the future is already here.
00:01:01.720 --> 00:01:06.154
And never have we felt more
distanced from the food source.
00:01:06.155 --> 00:01:11.209
Technology has quietly slipped into
the food chain moving genes from
00:01:11.210 --> 00:01:14.179
one life form to another we may already be
00:01:14.180 --> 00:01:18.360
eating genetically altered
foods and not even know it
00:01:32.950 --> 00:01:37.594
Prince Edward Island the fields
aren\'t productive right now.
00:01:37.595 --> 00:01:43.140
But even in the dead of winter life
begins in the warmth of a barn.
00:01:55.810 --> 00:02:00.664
A calf has helped into the world
by three generations of farmers.
00:02:00.665 --> 00:02:04.354
I tradition farmers giving
nature a helping hand
00:02:04.355 --> 00:02:09.180
guiding the animals and crops
through the rhythm of the seasons.
00:02:15.250 --> 00:02:19.699
But science is revolutionizing
that relationship.
00:02:19.700 --> 00:02:22.234
We\'re no longer merely helping nature.
00:02:22.235 --> 00:02:24.480
We\'re changing it.
00:02:31.690 --> 00:02:35.449
Meet the revolutionary new potato.
00:02:35.450 --> 00:02:39.709
This is the first genetically altered
vegetable to be grown and sold in
00:02:39.710 --> 00:02:44.389
Canada detonate Alice and Richard girl
are two of the first farmers to grow.
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It looked good.
00:02:46.820 --> 00:02:51.754
And it basically helps the potato producers
and the consumers and everyone on the like.
00:02:51.755 --> 00:02:56.134
Yes we all get to benefit from the
technology that has been built within this.
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This potato it isn\'t technological
potato isn\'t it yes it is.
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Words go together for you
technology and potato.
00:03:03.230 --> 00:03:06.510
I think that they just run hand in hand
00:03:11.170 --> 00:03:17.839
Technology is running hand in hand with a lot
of foods on the shelves right now soybean
00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:23.989
for instance which exists in 60% of process
booth is now being grown with new genes.
00:03:23.990 --> 00:03:26.869
Genetically altered corn
was grown in Ontario for
00:03:26.870 --> 00:03:30.124
the first time last year
canola in Saskatchewan.
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But it\'s PI that\'s home to
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the first genetically
altered potato potatoes
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account for almost half of
farm income on the island.
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That\'s meant the use of
a lot of pesticides.
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So there\'s been a campaign to reduce
the amount of chemicals used.
00:03:46.745 --> 00:03:52.069
What better time for the chemical companies
threatened by decrease sales to come up
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a bioengineer alternatives.
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There\'s something new on the variety.
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Newly these potatoes were created by
the American Chemical giant Monsanto.
00:04:03.620 --> 00:04:06.529
It makes Roundup the
best-selling pesticide in
00:04:06.530 --> 00:04:10.729
the world and made the defoliant
Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.
00:04:10.730 --> 00:04:13.159
It\'s ventured into food with NutraSweet.
00:04:13.160 --> 00:04:16.879
And these days Monsanto is
embracing biotechnology.
00:04:16.880 --> 00:04:20.700
The nature Mark potato is
one of its first offering.
00:04:22.730 --> 00:04:25.849
It\'s a very nice for data to go from
00:04:25.850 --> 00:04:28.759
my knowledge for the last few years
I\'ve been working with this Friday.
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And I\'m very pleased
that the way this potato
00:04:31.100 --> 00:04:34.029
perform show I mean they just look
at the type and the skin texture
00:04:34.030 --> 00:04:35.689
taste just as good.
00:04:35.690 --> 00:04:39.754
And you tell the difference between
a BET potato and a normal potato.
00:04:39.755 --> 00:04:42.559
Looking at a pile Yeah
there\'s no different.
00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:47.629
But it is different from your average
potato because its leaves are poisonous to
00:04:47.630 --> 00:04:52.999
the insect that feeds off at the Colorado
potato beetle unknown to the bug.
00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:56.224
It\'s now eating a toxin
built right into the plant.
00:04:56.225 --> 00:05:01.234
Scientists took a gene from a bacterium
and the soil called BT for short.
00:05:01.235 --> 00:05:02.944
That\'s toxic to the bug.
00:05:02.945 --> 00:05:06.019
They inserted it into
the DNA of the potato.
00:05:06.020 --> 00:05:10.279
So when the beetle eats the plant
it dies within a few days there\'s
00:05:10.280 --> 00:05:15.900
no pesticide necessary because in
effect the plants become one itself.
00:05:18.570 --> 00:05:25.314
But some potato farmers on PEI are opting
out of the biotechnology revolution.
00:05:25.315 --> 00:05:27.609
Maybe Whitney in five years down the road.
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We\'ll see afraid and probably you haven\'t
achieved walking across the road.
00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:35.019
How do we know why you\'re joking
but you\'re not sure if I\'m
00:05:35.020 --> 00:05:39.054
joking but I\'m not joking because
they\'ll go to animals next they\'ll do.
00:05:39.055 --> 00:05:47.055
They\'ll do anything. Jp Hendrick
00:05:48.700 --> 00:05:50.304
and raises pigs to.
00:05:50.305 --> 00:05:53.649
And for the same reason he doesn\'t
give his pigs hormone shots.
00:05:53.650 --> 00:05:56.274
He won\'t plant genetically
altered potatoes.
00:05:56.275 --> 00:05:59.339
He doesn\'t trust them. And when you cross
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Genetic lines.
00:06:01.280 --> 00:06:05.599
What are we really going to do we\'ve
seen great changes in our society.
00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:07.099
We changed in the way people look
00:06:07.100 --> 00:06:09.889
especially great change in
characteristics as far as animals and
00:06:09.890 --> 00:06:12.019
potatoes and things like this
are concerned because they\'ve
00:06:12.020 --> 00:06:14.464
been able to crossbreed which
they haven\'t done in humans.
00:06:14.465 --> 00:06:16.819
But once they do we\'ll do it in plants
00:06:16.820 --> 00:06:19.714
You know we are what we eat.
00:06:19.715 --> 00:06:27.715
Regardless of what we say or give their farm
produces 15 million pounds of potatoes every
00:06:27.740 --> 00:06:31.684
year made possible in part
by the use of pesticides
00:06:31.685 --> 00:06:36.259
despite the movement on the island to
reduce chemicals JP and his wife Marie.
00:06:36.260 --> 00:06:39.154
I don\'t think the new BT
potato is a better option.
00:06:39.155 --> 00:06:42.349
The same people that are producing
the genetically altered.
00:06:42.350 --> 00:06:47.194
Potatoes are also the same people
that we bought our chemicals off.
00:06:47.195 --> 00:06:52.534
And so therefore they
are losing out maybe on
00:06:52.535 --> 00:06:55.204
people buying chemicals
but they\'re the good guys
00:06:55.205 --> 00:06:58.504
because they\'re coming
up with an alternative
00:06:58.505 --> 00:07:03.570
And I\'m not so sure that
it\'s a good alternative.
00:07:11.170 --> 00:07:16.234
Well caldera knows who\'d
intimately on a cellular level.
00:07:16.235 --> 00:07:19.410
He\'s a plant cell biologist.
00:07:20.620 --> 00:07:23.254
Well I see it as evolution.
00:07:23.255 --> 00:07:24.439
Let\'s work backwards.
00:07:24.440 --> 00:07:27.739
If you look if you\'re on the in the
grocery store you\'re not going to see
00:07:27.740 --> 00:07:30.469
a genetically engineered
food product was looking
00:07:30.470 --> 00:07:34.759
dramatically different with some
new color a new taste. In fact you
00:07:34.760 --> 00:07:38.310
Most likely can\'t tell any difference.
00:07:39.010 --> 00:07:42.109
Well there\'s a long history
of science to this.
00:07:42.110 --> 00:07:45.529
It wasn\'t something that was developed
overnight and some dark laboratory.
00:07:45.530 --> 00:07:52.099
A couple of years ago will have
Keller is one of the creators
00:07:52.100 --> 00:07:54.349
of this new food from his lab at
00:07:54.350 --> 00:07:58.954
the University of Saskatchewan he pioneered
the genetic engineering of canola.
00:07:58.955 --> 00:08:02.359
We\'ve submitted those transgenic
canola seed samples about a week ago.
00:08:02.360 --> 00:08:04.969
I was wondering if you were able to
get a chance to work with them yeah.
00:08:04.970 --> 00:08:06.679
Transgenic is a word.
00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:08.299
You hear a lot in this lab.
00:08:08.300 --> 00:08:11.674
It means the transfer of
genes for wealth Keller.
00:08:11.675 --> 00:08:16.669
It\'s merely an extension of what\'s been
going on for centuries. Okay thank you.
00:08:16.670 --> 00:08:22.039
Since civilization since so we\'ve
become stationary and began farming.
00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:24.169
People have been doing plant breeding.
00:08:24.170 --> 00:08:27.109
They haven\'t making genetic
modifications and enhancing
00:08:27.110 --> 00:08:31.654
material for a yield for storability
for disease resistance.
00:08:31.655 --> 00:08:36.319
What he\'s referring to is classical
breeding crossing varieties of
00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:41.344
plants and animals to get the best breed
but that\'s only done within species.
00:08:41.345 --> 00:08:43.999
After all the birds and the bees
can only mate where they\'re
00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:47.299
supposed to genetic engineering changes all
00:08:47.300 --> 00:08:51.859
that enabling scientists for the
first time to cross species put
00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:58.230
a fish gene and a tomato a radish
into a plum a bacterium into a potato
00:08:59.950 --> 00:09:07.564
You\'ve got to pull back from this dependence
on this technology and look for another way.
00:09:07.565 --> 00:09:11.029
And Clark is a crop scientist
at Guelph University.
00:09:11.030 --> 00:09:14.929
She thinks we\'re on a dangerous track
with genetic engineering of foods.
00:09:14.930 --> 00:09:20.899
I think our children will look at us and
we\'ll we\'ll love will ask us why did we
00:09:20.900 --> 00:09:23.179
ever let this happen and
00:09:23.180 --> 00:09:27.214
why why didn\'t you do something I think
that\'s what they will say to us.
00:09:27.215 --> 00:09:34.654
And and I want to be able to say I tried
and debates these issues on the internet.
00:09:34.655 --> 00:09:37.744
And all I\'d place to warn of
the dangers of technology
00:09:37.745 --> 00:09:41.539
that he or she defends nature it\'s
like a boomerang. It\'s like a
00:09:41.540 --> 00:09:45.319
An elastic band you can stretch
it so far but eventually it\'ll
00:09:45.320 --> 00:09:49.804
break or it comes back on
you and nature gets even.
00:09:49.805 --> 00:09:57.805
And whether it\'s antibiotic resistance in us
DDT resistance in the malaria mosquitoes.
00:09:58.450 --> 00:10:04.309
Frogs with six legs you know
whatever it is it all comes home of
00:10:04.310 --> 00:10:06.709
initially and you don\'t have to wait for
00:10:06.710 --> 00:10:11.310
the catastrophe to happen to say
something isn\'t right here.
00:10:15.400 --> 00:10:19.729
One of the things that not
right according to JP Hendrick
00:10:19.730 --> 00:10:23.659
and is that bugs could become
resistant to this technology
00:10:23.660 --> 00:10:27.439
Insects has been able to survive through
thousands of years and have you
00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:30.739
tried to beat the insect
things that could be too late.
00:10:30.740 --> 00:10:33.889
You sort of have to live with everything.
Don\'t destroy it.
00:10:33.890 --> 00:10:35.194
That\'s the boy. Come on.
00:10:35.195 --> 00:10:38.929
He has great faith and the
resilience of nature whether
00:10:38.930 --> 00:10:42.814
it\'s a 600 pound pig or a
tiny potato beetle boy
00:10:42.815 --> 00:10:47.704
the Colorado potato beetle with before the
year 2 thousand we find today around the BUT
00:10:47.705 --> 00:10:50.119
they may have to increase
that level of 1000 more times
00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:53.119
but as he builds resistance
there\'s always a few.
00:10:53.120 --> 00:10:56.269
It is been there in nature
the Lord put it there.
00:10:56.270 --> 00:11:00.694
And so there\'s a few that I will
have no effect and they will breed.
00:11:00.695 --> 00:11:03.154
And what will happen then.
00:11:03.155 --> 00:11:06.093
So you\'re bound to develop a superbug
00:11:06.094 --> 00:11:08.310
And that\'s what\'s common.
00:11:10.870 --> 00:11:14.929
At Biotechnology conferences farmers meet
00:11:14.930 --> 00:11:18.934
with industry to discuss
ways around bug resistance.
00:11:18.935 --> 00:11:23.509
What we wanna do is understand the
genetics of the insect resistance.
00:11:23.510 --> 00:11:27.679
We can understand that then we
can better devise strategies.
00:11:27.680 --> 00:11:32.554
One strategy is planting crops
of normal potatoes nearby.
00:11:32.555 --> 00:11:36.499
So the bugs eat them too and
resistance is slow down.
00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:39.964
And if that doesn\'t work there
are always more options
00:11:39.965 --> 00:11:44.659
Back in the lab. I think
00:11:44.660 --> 00:11:49.159
as we know more about insect resistance
we can add more than one gene.
00:11:49.160 --> 00:11:51.019
The BT gene has a single gene.
00:11:51.020 --> 00:11:53.389
Eventually you kinda add genes that attack
00:11:53.390 --> 00:11:56.329
the insect problem in other
ways so that it will become
00:11:56.330 --> 00:11:58.969
very difficult if not
impossible for an insect to
00:11:58.970 --> 00:12:02.584
become resistant to all those
genes at the same time.
00:12:02.585 --> 00:12:06.229
The idea of a genetic cocktail worries.
00:12:06.230 --> 00:12:07.984
Critics of this technology.
00:12:07.985 --> 00:12:12.574
They argue we just don\'t know enough
about how these genes interact.
00:12:12.575 --> 00:12:15.439
That gene does not behave on its own.
00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:19.114
It behaves in interaction with other genes.
00:12:19.115 --> 00:12:22.714
So you\'re asking that gene to behave
00:12:22.715 --> 00:12:27.349
As part of a larger genetic
mill you that it\'s in.
00:12:27.350 --> 00:12:31.624
I think there are many inbuilt
regulations and guidelines.
00:12:31.625 --> 00:12:34.114
So I don\'t see it running wild.
00:12:34.115 --> 00:12:38.040
I don\'t see a Jurassic Park here.
00:12:43.570 --> 00:12:49.189
Will have Keller argues that the act of
transferring genes from one organism to another.
00:12:49.190 --> 00:12:51.634
It\'s so precise that nothing can go wrong.
00:12:51.635 --> 00:12:56.670
They simply pluck one gene from one
organism and shoot it into another.
00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:04.624
Automatically when these plants are made
we\'re looking for all types of other
00:13:04.625 --> 00:13:07.789
Side effects in terms of
vigor of the plant or
00:13:07.790 --> 00:13:11.074
any behavioral changes in terms
of the way it produces seed.
00:13:11.075 --> 00:13:13.789
This is all assessed in a
growth chamber on a greenhouse
00:13:13.790 --> 00:13:16.924
before or the plant even goes
anywhere out to the field.
00:13:16.925 --> 00:13:21.409
But an Clark worries about the
plant once it\'s in the field that
00:13:21.410 --> 00:13:24.019
the genetically altered
seed might blow into
00:13:24.020 --> 00:13:27.319
a neighbor\'s crop or
worse Create a new weed.
00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:31.204
Sometimes it\'s only a single gene
that separates a weed From a crop.
00:13:31.205 --> 00:13:33.244
Good example as well dotes.
00:13:33.245 --> 00:13:38.329
There\'s only one gene suppressor gene that
separates while notes from conventionals.
00:13:38.330 --> 00:13:40.894
So I gotta do is have that one gene moving.
00:13:40.895 --> 00:13:43.219
And you can create a wheat.
00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:46.863
And that new we\'d would
be herbicide resistant
00:13:46.864 --> 00:13:49.999
Meaning stronger herbicides
would be needed to kill it.
00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:55.249
Scenarios like that make the critics
wonder whose agenda is being served here.
00:13:55.250 --> 00:13:57.499
Jp Hendrick and thinks he knows
00:13:57.500 --> 00:14:01.099
multinationals wat in and they\'d
get in through this type of
00:14:01.100 --> 00:14:03.979
control it\'ll give them total
control and the farmers will
00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:07.639
be be a bunch of slaves
and their own industry.
00:14:07.640 --> 00:14:11.550
That\'s all they will be in the corporations
will control the food industry
00:14:25.990 --> 00:14:30.574
For this potluck dinner at the
high school and allow Saskatchewan
00:14:30.575 --> 00:14:35.404
everyone\'s pitched in the same way farmers
have helped each other for generations.
00:14:35.405 --> 00:14:37.609
The co-operative movement was born here.
00:14:37.610 --> 00:14:41.370
I tradition upheld by
people like many weeks.
00:14:49.420 --> 00:14:54.420
Many we\'ve as President of
the National Farmers Union.
00:14:54.670 --> 00:15:00.679
We use two as prairie farmers and as
farmers across this country recognize
00:15:00.680 --> 00:15:03.724
our interdependence and I think
that\'s very helpful in terms of
00:15:03.725 --> 00:15:08.269
community to recognize that you meet your
neighbors and the value of your neighbors
00:15:08.270 --> 00:15:16.270
Work together on it. What we\'ve
00:15:18.275 --> 00:15:23.404
now become is very dependent
on some corporate structures.
00:15:23.405 --> 00:15:27.514
We cannot move without fuel
without tractors without
00:15:27.515 --> 00:15:34.099
the corporates structures which
support now the farming industry.
00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:38.479
And I think in terms of culture in terms
of our understanding of each other.
00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:44.059
That\'s in fact any erosion that misleads
us into thinking we\'re independent when as
00:15:44.060 --> 00:15:50.254
a matter of fact we\'re we have
some very unfortunate dependencies
00:15:50.255 --> 00:15:53.899
She fears genetic engineering
will repeat the pattern of
00:15:53.900 --> 00:15:57.319
technological advances on
the farm better economies
00:15:57.320 --> 00:16:00.229
of scale bigger farm operations and
00:16:00.230 --> 00:16:04.249
farmers who don\'t embrace the
technology run the risk of going under.
00:16:04.250 --> 00:16:07.894
We have been worried that it\'s a technology
00:16:07.895 --> 00:16:12.584
which which might not serve the public
good and might not sort of farmers.
00:16:12.585 --> 00:16:14.850
Well in the long run
00:16:15.520 --> 00:16:21.694
Canola is the crop that\'s undergone more
genetic engineering than any other.
00:16:21.695 --> 00:16:25.369
And one of the scientists who made
that possible was wealth Keller.
00:16:25.370 --> 00:16:30.664
He knows that canola is the number two
cash crop in Canada that it represents
00:16:30.665 --> 00:16:34.099
60% of all the cooking
oil consumed here and
00:16:34.100 --> 00:16:37.714
it\'s a big export the Japanese
love it for their tempura.
00:16:37.715 --> 00:16:42.319
So with so much at stake he says
Let\'s make canola even better.
00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:48.199
They are relatively minor fine tuning
changes based on the modification
00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:51.184
of usually a single genetic entity
00:16:51.185 --> 00:16:54.529
out of the 50 some thousands of genes
that are there we need to bear in mind.
00:16:54.530 --> 00:16:56.809
This is a very small genetic change
00:16:56.810 --> 00:17:00.994
compared to the genetic base information
base that\'s there in the plant.
00:17:00.995 --> 00:17:06.094
The canola has been given a gene that
protects the plant from pesticides.
00:17:06.095 --> 00:17:09.244
So when these seedlings
become crops in the field
00:17:09.245 --> 00:17:12.934
they\'ll be able to withstand
stronger doses of weed killer.
00:17:12.935 --> 00:17:16.414
The canola will be what\'s
called herbicide tolerant.
00:17:16.415 --> 00:17:17.719
So the farmer can use
00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:21.844
the most powerful herbicide available
and the crop will be unharmed.
00:17:21.845 --> 00:17:24.889
But it can only be used
with the right seed and
00:17:24.890 --> 00:17:28.039
both products are usually
made by the same company.
00:17:28.040 --> 00:17:30.259
Monsanto has a seed that goes with
00:17:30.260 --> 00:17:34.249
its Roundup herbicide and another
industry giant agree though
00:17:34.250 --> 00:17:37.384
one to match its herbicide liberty link.
00:17:37.385 --> 00:17:40.879
And it\'s the greatest thing to
happen to connote since canola
00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:44.554
and it\'s such a nice one
to you by the seed.
00:17:44.555 --> 00:17:49.189
And then you\'re also constrained by the
chemical which will make the seed.
00:17:49.190 --> 00:17:51.960
In fact a superior performer.
00:17:52.090 --> 00:17:55.669
Companies investing in this
research certainly have
00:17:55.670 --> 00:17:58.549
something to gain or else they
wouldn\'t be making the investment.
00:17:58.550 --> 00:18:02.059
Brands Kennedy is head of the
seeds division for agree though.
00:18:02.060 --> 00:18:04.534
It\'s patented his seed called innovator.
00:18:04.535 --> 00:18:09.109
It was developed in partnership with governments
and the University of Saskatchewan.
00:18:09.110 --> 00:18:12.949
Most of the girls who are purchasing
innovator are purchasing it with
00:18:12.950 --> 00:18:16.429
the intention of using the liberty
herbicide. That was the point of view
00:18:16.430 --> 00:18:19.264
company developing it in the
first place wasn\'t only in Zen
00:18:19.265 --> 00:18:22.624
and there was a need in the
marketplace for a better.
00:18:22.625 --> 00:18:30.000
Weed control option is that we absolutely
need a herbicide resistant canola.
00:18:30.490 --> 00:18:34.384
As farmers we didn\'t think so.
00:18:34.385 --> 00:18:41.359
I mean there wasn\'t a farm level
cry for that kind of canola.
00:18:41.360 --> 00:18:45.394
But it has caught on with
farmers in a big way
00:18:45.395 --> 00:18:49.609
genetically altered canola
was first planted in 1995.
00:18:49.610 --> 00:18:53.599
By the end of this year just two
years later a million acres
00:18:53.600 --> 00:18:55.384
of the new canola will be grown.
00:18:55.385 --> 00:18:59.189
That\'s 1 tenth of the entire crop in Canada
00:18:59.190 --> 00:19:01.509
So why have farmers embrace
00:19:01.510 --> 00:19:04.929
this technology will many like
the one who lives on this farm.
00:19:04.930 --> 00:19:08.060
Simply don\'t want to be left behind.
00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:12.369
Most of the girl that I
grow and will be growing
00:19:12.370 --> 00:19:14.769
for the foreseeable future
is a genetically altered.
00:19:14.770 --> 00:19:16.509
Can all let just has a lot more things
00:19:16.510 --> 00:19:19.029
going for it than some of
these older varieties do.
00:19:19.030 --> 00:19:25.689
For Wayne black the new canola is part of
the evolution of technology on the farm.
00:19:25.690 --> 00:19:31.449
When you look at the most
basic form of technology
00:19:31.450 --> 00:19:33.489
you look at these animals behind us here
00:19:33.490 --> 00:19:36.954
and it wasn\'t that many years
ago they were pulling PLOS.
00:19:36.955 --> 00:19:39.459
No we\'re using four-wheel
drive trappers that\'s
00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:41.909
technology and kind of the most basic sense
00:19:41.910 --> 00:19:44.119
But it is technology nevertheless.
00:19:44.120 --> 00:19:48.949
But yesterday\'s plow is a long
way from today\'s contracts.
00:19:48.950 --> 00:19:52.849
The grower shall use any purchased
Roundup Ready canola for
00:19:52.850 --> 00:19:58.099
planting one and only one crop for resale
for consumption the grower agrees not to
00:19:58.100 --> 00:20:02.869
save seed produced from Roundup Ready canola
for the purpose of replanting NORC to that\'s
00:20:02.870 --> 00:20:08.029
the contract Wayne signed with Monsanto in
order to grow their herbicide tolerance.
00:20:08.030 --> 00:20:12.394
Canola Wayne has agreed not to
replant any seeds from his crop.
00:20:12.395 --> 00:20:16.519
He also has to buy Monsanto\'s
herbicide and he must pay a fee to
00:20:16.520 --> 00:20:20.944
the company for every acre of
canola that\'s grown. A company
00:20:20.945 --> 00:20:23.164
First of all it costs us $50 maker.
00:20:23.165 --> 00:20:25.654
And that\'s just the right to grow.
That\'s just the right to grow at that.
00:20:25.655 --> 00:20:29.479
It\'s called a technology Use
Agreement and its Monsanto\'s
00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:33.499
way of recouping it\'s sizable
investment into researching the seed.
00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:36.349
This agreement says that I
agree to allow them to come on
00:20:36.350 --> 00:20:39.379
to my farm not only for this
year but for three years
00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:41.779
after this and to check all of
00:20:41.780 --> 00:20:45.889
canola growth to make sure that I didn\'t
keep back some seed in em growing.
00:20:45.890 --> 00:20:49.519
Their variety of seed without paying
the technology use agreement.
00:20:49.520 --> 00:20:53.269
And what if they find that you\'ve been
well from what we understand there\'s
00:20:53.270 --> 00:20:57.559
some opportunity for them to leveled
some some very hefty fines.
00:20:57.560 --> 00:21:00.334
I\'ve heard as high as up
to $5 thousand an acre
00:21:00.335 --> 00:21:03.799
Wayne black believes the
canola is a superior product.
00:21:03.800 --> 00:21:06.469
So it doesn\'t mind giving
up a little independence.
00:21:06.470 --> 00:21:09.889
Not every company\'s relationship
with farmers is as restrictive as
00:21:09.890 --> 00:21:14.914
Monsanto\'s but there are signs everywhere
of pressure to buy into the technology.
00:21:14.915 --> 00:21:18.499
Agree Vose brand Kennedy says
it\'s still up to the farmer to
00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:23.494
decide our message to the farmer
is still that he has a choice.
00:21:23.495 --> 00:21:26.119
This new product develops
through biotechnology will
00:21:26.120 --> 00:21:29.749
either increase yields or
improve a quality at the end of
00:21:29.750 --> 00:21:32.929
a day it\'ll increase the returns
00:21:32.930 --> 00:21:36.349
on his investment increased the
returns from his farming operation.
00:21:36.350 --> 00:21:40.129
Would you and your husband ever consider
planting genetically engineered crops
00:21:40.130 --> 00:21:43.639
Well we\'re caught where all
other farm families are caught.
00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:46.339
And that isn\'t a place where
we have when we have to
00:21:46.340 --> 00:21:49.159
make the calculation of whether
we adopt this technology
00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:55.249
or we go under than we adopted some
say in the not-too-distant future.
00:21:55.250 --> 00:21:59.554
Every product in the supermarket will
have genetically altered ingredients.
00:21:59.555 --> 00:22:03.874
A brave new world of
possibilities independence
00:22:03.875 --> 00:22:10.320
West innovation new leap maximizer freedom.
00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:17.419
On Prince Edward Island to farmers spread
00:22:17.420 --> 00:22:21.810
the word that the genetically
altered potato has arrived
00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:32.049
What does a Yeah Richard Garland den
00:22:32.050 --> 00:22:35.364
Alice had been growing the new
leaf potato for three years.
00:22:35.365 --> 00:22:39.579
Now they distribute the product so more
farmers on the island can grow it.
00:22:39.580 --> 00:22:42.219
Even though it is a
genetically altered potato
00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:44.919
they reassure farmers that
only the science makes it
00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:50.799
different than it looks feels and most
importantly tastes the same as any other potato.
00:22:50.800 --> 00:22:55.239
They explain that the potatoes got
a new gene that makes it toxic to
00:22:55.240 --> 00:23:00.290
the dreaded potato beetle so the
farmer can cut down on pesticides
00:23:05.890 --> 00:23:11.029
So far only about 4% of the
farmers on the island are growing
00:23:11.030 --> 00:23:13.639
the new leaf potato but
that number is expected to
00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:18.214
climb as farmers develop more of a
comfort level with the science.
00:23:18.215 --> 00:23:24.199
But the pitch for biotechnology goes
way beyond a two-man campaign on PEI.
00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:27.889
That is a great market
and a great place for
00:23:27.890 --> 00:23:33.154
biotech is to uncover possibility
for joint venture partners.
00:23:33.155 --> 00:23:38.059
Help companies grow at this
biotechnology trade fair in Toronto.
00:23:38.060 --> 00:23:42.319
It\'s easy to see that the industry
is growing fast in candidates
00:23:42.320 --> 00:23:47.329
barely a decade old but already has revenues
of more than a billion dollars a year
00:23:47.330 --> 00:23:52.504
food pharmaceuticals environmental
products it\'s all called Life Sciences.
00:23:52.505 --> 00:23:57.379
And everyone\'s getting in on the act including
Saskatchewan scientist will have Keller.
00:23:57.380 --> 00:24:01.954
It will become more reliable
and more friendly more easy to
00:24:01.955 --> 00:24:07.309
understand and it will be accepted them
the same way that the PC is accepted.
00:24:07.310 --> 00:24:12.390
I wanted the first computers were probably
considered marginal against the typewriter.
00:24:12.520 --> 00:24:17.299
And now that the technologies in the
food chain the industry claims that
00:24:17.300 --> 00:24:22.140
the new foods especially crops
have great potential for everyone.
00:24:22.270 --> 00:24:28.969
Defenders of biotechnology argue that these
new crops will benefit humanity that with
00:24:28.970 --> 00:24:30.679
one person dying from starvation
00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:35.374
every 15 seconds we have a moral
obligation to develop these crops.
00:24:35.375 --> 00:24:38.554
Ones with higher yields are ones
that could survive a drought.
00:24:38.555 --> 00:24:42.049
And with an exploding global
population the urgency to
00:24:42.050 --> 00:24:46.710
produce more food in less
space is greater than ever.
00:24:56.170 --> 00:25:00.979
As head of the National Farmers
Union many we\'ve as conscious about
00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:05.119
the new technology and doesn\'t buy the
argument that it will feed the world
00:25:05.120 --> 00:25:10.609
She says she\'s heard that
before in 1974 when they had
00:25:10.610 --> 00:25:15.799
the last World Food Summit all of the
enthusiasm at that point was that
00:25:15.800 --> 00:25:18.169
we would feed the world with
the Green Revolution and
00:25:18.170 --> 00:25:21.184
new technological fix would
help us feed the world.
00:25:21.185 --> 00:25:23.839
22 years later we are contemplating
00:25:23.840 --> 00:25:28.549
some 800 million people in the
world who are food insecure.
00:25:28.550 --> 00:25:30.630
They say hungry.
00:25:31.450 --> 00:25:39.450
We are again being told that what we have
now is a new technological fix called
00:25:39.650 --> 00:25:42.600
a biotechnology are all.
00:25:42.610 --> 00:25:46.774
Yeah if you\'ve got room there\'s
a great deal of doubt about how
00:25:46.775 --> 00:25:50.704
ecological sustainability is how
dangerous it is for the environment.
00:25:50.705 --> 00:25:55.999
And there is complete skepticism that the
poorest of the poor who are the hungry will in
00:25:56.000 --> 00:26:01.999
fact be aided at all by this high tech
highly capitalised new mode of production.
00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:04.609
Brand Kennedy as head of
the seeds division at
00:26:04.610 --> 00:26:08.239
agree VO and argues that technology
could make a difference x0.
00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:14.119
Use of biotechnology will
enhance the supply of food.
00:26:14.120 --> 00:26:16.954
Speaking specifically of plants.
00:26:16.955 --> 00:26:20.494
The estimate is that biotechnology
will increase yields
00:26:20.495 --> 00:26:23.524
On on which crop you\'re
speaking about but generally
00:26:23.525 --> 00:26:26.959
could increase yields
anywhere from 25 to 50%.
00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:31.414
Over the course of the next ten to
15 years what\'s missing there is
00:26:31.415 --> 00:26:36.529
any sort of analysis of who produces
that food who controls that food.
00:26:36.530 --> 00:26:42.390
And who in the end we\'ll decide who gets
to have lunch and who does something.
00:26:45.730 --> 00:26:50.989
But once lunch is served it\'s
impossible to know what you\'re eating.
00:26:50.990 --> 00:26:54.709
The New Leaf potatoes grown
on PEI aren\'t identified as
00:26:54.710 --> 00:26:59.074
genetically altered the families who
grow them may know the science inside.
00:26:59.075 --> 00:27:02.640
But the rest of us don\'t
because they\'re not label
00:27:03.360 --> 00:27:10.254
Better than a big potato although scientists
have basically done their homework.
00:27:10.255 --> 00:27:13.509
And I think we\'ll let that speak for
00:27:13.510 --> 00:27:18.849
itself last year to test the market
the company tried labeling them.
00:27:18.850 --> 00:27:20.904
Consumer response was poor.
00:27:20.905 --> 00:27:22.704
So the labels were pulled.
00:27:22.705 --> 00:27:26.780
There\'s nothing in food
regulations that requires it.
00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:36.009
I want to welcome you all and thank
you for coming this morning.
00:27:36.010 --> 00:27:38.540
Pertains to Canada
00:27:44.710 --> 00:27:48.859
At a luncheon in downtown
Toronto environmental groups
00:27:48.860 --> 00:27:51.499
invite the media to see
some of the new foods that
00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:54.499
science is serving up they
want to draw attention to
00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:57.919
the fact that genetically altered
foods aren\'t labeled Chef.
00:27:57.920 --> 00:27:59.119
Jamie Kennedy is making
00:27:59.120 --> 00:28:03.079
potato pancakes that may or may not
have genetically altered ingredients.
00:28:03.080 --> 00:28:10.624
He doesn\'t know or more conscious or
aware of the foods they eat and others.
00:28:10.625 --> 00:28:14.284
But I think everybody likes
to have the choice to know
00:28:14.285 --> 00:28:18.574
whether or not they\'re using some
age has been genetically engineer.
00:28:18.575 --> 00:28:23.209
I\'m presenting a delicious
smelling plate of
00:28:23.210 --> 00:28:27.889
corn and potato pancakes that
could have been made with corn
00:28:27.890 --> 00:28:33.799
genetically engineered corn crops potatoes
that contain genetically engineered.
00:28:33.800 --> 00:28:37.819
Toxins fried in canola oil that could
00:28:37.820 --> 00:28:41.749
have been genetically engineered
to be tolerant of herbicides.
00:28:41.750 --> 00:28:44.599
Tony MA Quayle is an organic farmer in
00:28:44.600 --> 00:28:49.669
southern Ontario who\'s joined the
campaign against bio engineered foods.
00:28:49.670 --> 00:28:53.089
I certainly don\'t want to be
eating New Leaf potatoes or
00:28:53.090 --> 00:28:57.870
corn plants with this toxin
embedded in their very sell makeup.
00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:04.639
There are now 18 genetically
altered foods on
00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:07.909
the market and across town at
a food industry conference
00:29:07.910 --> 00:29:10.264
the man who approves them Paul mares.
00:29:10.265 --> 00:29:14.119
He\'s head of the Office of biotechnology
and health candidate and says
00:29:14.120 --> 00:29:18.724
the new foods are subject to the same
safety guidelines as normal foods.
00:29:18.725 --> 00:29:22.864
Once they\'re demonstrated to be a safe and
nutritious as a conventional product.
00:29:22.865 --> 00:29:25.789
Health Canada has no basis on which to
00:29:25.790 --> 00:29:29.899
require those products to be treated
differently than a conventional product.
00:29:29.900 --> 00:29:33.709
He says the fact that the foods
may have been genetically altered
00:29:33.710 --> 00:29:37.669
only matters if things like
nutritional content are affected.
00:29:37.670 --> 00:29:41.389
If the genetic material were coming from
00:29:41.390 --> 00:29:46.144
a source that was known to produce
toxins known to produce allergens.
00:29:46.145 --> 00:29:50.044
These are already risks
that are in the food supply
00:29:50.045 --> 00:29:54.484
We would be concerned about those whether
it was genetically modified or not.
00:29:54.485 --> 00:29:56.209
Mark wind field is with
00:29:56.210 --> 00:29:58.669
the Canadian Institute for
Environmental Law and
00:29:58.670 --> 00:30:01.654
Policy and thinks these foods
should be treated differently.
00:30:01.655 --> 00:30:06.634
There has been an anon unseemly rush to
get these products onto the marketplace.
00:30:06.635 --> 00:30:10.309
Before either the regulatory
framework has really
00:30:10.310 --> 00:30:14.069
been established properly or in
some ways even more seriously.
00:30:14.070 --> 00:30:17.299
The science to assess these products from
00:30:17.300 --> 00:30:19.849
both an environmental perspective
00:30:19.850 --> 00:30:22.924
and a human health perspective
is really only just emerging.
00:30:22.925 --> 00:30:26.269
He also criticizes Health
Canada for relying
00:30:26.270 --> 00:30:30.379
solely on company data to assess
the safety of these products
00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:34.999
Health Canada doesn\'t conduct
specific testing on the product.
00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:38.764
What we do is review the
information generated
00:30:38.765 --> 00:30:43.399
by the proponent of the product to
demonstrate it safety that\'s Crick
00:30:43.400 --> 00:30:46.399
comes from the company that the information
comes from the company because
00:30:46.400 --> 00:30:50.059
the safety of the product
is the responsibility of
00:30:50.060 --> 00:30:55.519
the company health Canada\'s role is to
ensure that that information has been
00:30:55.520 --> 00:30:58.219
collected and does in fact
demonstrate the safety of
00:30:58.220 --> 00:31:01.564
that product Health candidate has no
independent testing of his product.
00:31:01.565 --> 00:31:07.729
That\'s correct. But there are people who think
Health Canada isn\'t looking out for them.
00:31:07.730 --> 00:31:13.024
Janet woke has celiac disease and already
has to watch your diet very carefully
00:31:13.025 --> 00:31:16.849
Celiacs have a severe allergy
to the protein found in wheat.
00:31:16.850 --> 00:31:19.414
So many foods like bread are ruled out.
00:31:19.415 --> 00:31:21.979
But the potato has always
been safe for her.
00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:25.264
Now she\'s not so sure it extra ones.
00:31:25.265 --> 00:31:31.114
Even if it were approaching
that they consider safe.
00:31:31.115 --> 00:31:34.999
Any new protein could possibly cause
00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:40.684
the same result as the protein
that the celiac cannot have.
00:31:40.685 --> 00:31:45.409
How do we know that we do know a lot about
00:31:45.410 --> 00:31:47.959
allergens that are already
in the food supply but we
00:31:47.960 --> 00:31:50.779
also know a lot about allergens themselves.
00:31:50.780 --> 00:31:52.819
And so we can assess
00:31:52.820 --> 00:31:56.179
essential for a protein that\'s
introduced to be an elegant.
00:31:56.180 --> 00:32:00.289
And in fact for each of these proteins
that\'s introduced we do exactly that.
00:32:00.290 --> 00:32:04.684
We assess the potential for that
protein to be a food allergen.
00:32:04.685 --> 00:32:09.229
Despite these reassurances Janet
woke would rather not buy
00:32:09.230 --> 00:32:14.509
these foods but that choice has been taken
away from her because they\'re not labeled.
00:32:14.510 --> 00:32:20.970
I fear now that theatre
basic foods such as corn.
00:32:21.280 --> 00:32:26.419
These are being altered or in the process
of being altered and I have no way of
00:32:26.420 --> 00:32:32.344
knowing what they\'re going
to put into these foods.
00:32:32.345 --> 00:32:35.329
The products that are on the market
00:32:35.330 --> 00:32:41.044
they are safe and nutritious and
none of the products to date
00:32:41.045 --> 00:32:43.429
have raised safety concerns
which would require
00:32:43.430 --> 00:32:47.194
Health Canada to require special labeling.
00:32:47.195 --> 00:32:50.599
There have been protests in
Europe over the labeling issue.
00:32:50.600 --> 00:32:54.469
So some countries like Great Britain
have responded by labeling some of
00:32:54.470 --> 00:32:56.899
the new foods Denmark
and the Netherlands are
00:32:56.900 --> 00:33:00.424
considering it to but North
America as a harder sell.
00:33:00.425 --> 00:33:04.444
So groups like Greenpeace you scare
tactics calling the new crops.
00:33:04.445 --> 00:33:06.600
A biohazard
00:33:18.580 --> 00:33:24.559
At a church in downtown Toronto Brewster
100n is leading a crusade of his.
00:33:24.560 --> 00:33:30.469
He\'s a preacher a farmer and an outspoken
critic of bio engineered food.
00:33:30.470 --> 00:33:35.149
I think it\'s becoming more and more
obvious to people that we must free
00:33:35.150 --> 00:33:40.939
ourselves from the market as the
defining character of a society.
00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:44.044
The problem is that we are
conducting an experiment.
00:33:44.045 --> 00:33:48.304
In this case I mean where do you
look throwing my BT potatoes or
00:33:48.305 --> 00:33:54.349
BT corn or herbicide tolerant
corn Roundup Ready soy beans.
00:33:54.350 --> 00:33:59.613
Any of these things. They
are experiments conducted
00:33:59.614 --> 00:34:02.779
on an unwitting public.
00:34:02.780 --> 00:34:05.029
And it may take years to find
00:34:05.030 --> 00:34:13.030
out the words leaving many are one
body for we all share in one grid.
00:34:15.605 --> 00:34:19.350
That\'s built off of on Earth.
00:34:25.630 --> 00:34:30.394
It\'s not often Brewster need
is invited to universities.
00:34:30.395 --> 00:34:35.434
He\'s known to ruffle feathers and this day
at the University of Guelph is no exception.
00:34:35.435 --> 00:34:39.900
He challenges the integrity
of universities themselves.
00:34:43.660 --> 00:34:47.779
In order to get a PhD today in
agriculture you\'ve got to have
00:34:47.780 --> 00:34:51.739
a corporate sponsor because nobody
else is gonna pay for your research.
00:34:51.740 --> 00:34:56.944
And what does that do to science and we\'ve
really gotta tackle those questions
00:34:56.945 --> 00:34:59.119
Because what you\'re doing
and that of course is
00:34:59.120 --> 00:35:02.700
eliminating diversity
systematically and deliberately.
00:35:06.040 --> 00:35:09.799
And Clark says she\'s seen that firsthand.
00:35:09.800 --> 00:35:13.159
She\'s a crop scientist at the
University of Guelph and says
00:35:13.160 --> 00:35:16.909
faculty look to corporations for
research money because public funding is
00:35:16.910 --> 00:35:21.799
drying up and were encouraged to seek out
relationships with different companies
00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:27.364
and get money from them to do the
research and I think it\'s unethical.
00:35:27.365 --> 00:35:29.749
I understand why it\'s happening but it\'s
00:35:29.750 --> 00:35:32.524
something I\'m not prepared to do.
Trying to get something.
00:35:32.525 --> 00:35:33.739
There\'s a compromise.
00:35:33.740 --> 00:35:39.304
Well I think that a partnership between the
public and private sectors is healthy.
00:35:39.305 --> 00:35:41.929
We\'ll have Keller\'s research
into genetically altered.
00:35:41.930 --> 00:35:46.729
Canola was partly funded by a seed company
in partnership with governments and
00:35:46.730 --> 00:35:49.219
the University of Saskatchewan have
00:35:49.220 --> 00:35:53.344
some private sector activity
does encourage more research.
00:35:53.345 --> 00:35:57.229
If you take a look at our industrial research
park here there quite a few companies.
00:35:57.230 --> 00:36:00.768
They\'ve created employment opportunities
they generate new technologies
00:36:00.769 --> 00:36:04.249
new products and there
is a consumer demand.
00:36:04.250 --> 00:36:07.894
If these are good products there\'ll be a
consumer demand and there are spin off.
00:36:07.895 --> 00:36:12.574
What progress means to some
farmers is simply the unknown.
00:36:12.575 --> 00:36:18.814
If you\'re concerned about growing food
and have a healthy soil you can do it.
00:36:18.815 --> 00:36:21.484
Along with mother nature of course
00:36:21.485 --> 00:36:24.319
Gored Hamlin stopped using pesticides
00:36:24.320 --> 00:36:27.934
30 years ago after he developed
severe allergies to them.
00:36:27.935 --> 00:36:30.574
Now he\'s a certified organic farmer.
00:36:30.575 --> 00:36:33.919
And as such he can\'t grow the
genetically altered crops.
00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:37.429
And instead of chemicals He uses
more natural methods to grow
00:36:37.430 --> 00:36:42.900
his grain like rotating crops so the
soil is nurtured by different plants.
00:36:44.050 --> 00:36:48.469
The conventional farmers that
they will use fertilizer.
00:36:48.470 --> 00:36:51.724
Liquid nitrogen or granules.
00:36:51.725 --> 00:36:52.969
We can\'t do that.
00:36:52.970 --> 00:36:57.960
So therefore we have to use different crops
to put the nutrients back in the soil.
00:36:58.330 --> 00:37:04.444
Gourd Hamlin takes pride in the fact
that his techniques may be somewhat
00:37:04.445 --> 00:37:09.589
Here is a sample of a Polish
they call it a Polish pollute.
00:37:09.590 --> 00:37:12.634
It\'s what our current
drums were derived from.
00:37:12.635 --> 00:37:17.659
It\'s the seed dates back
to about 2 thousand years.
00:37:17.660 --> 00:37:21.304
This variety just to boat went extinct.
00:37:21.305 --> 00:37:27.949
And I got a friend that knew that I wanted to
grow this and sent me some in a match box.
00:37:27.950 --> 00:37:30.829
And I generated the seeds from
00:37:30.830 --> 00:37:35.914
a little sample in the Matchbox to know
that I\'ll have a boat 4050 acres of it.
00:37:35.915 --> 00:37:39.829
Farmers like gourd Hamlin
run the risk of becoming
00:37:39.830 --> 00:37:44.460
like the relics in his
yard out of sync with time
00:37:45.400 --> 00:37:49.429
The farm of Wayne black
wouldn\'t be guilty of that.
00:37:49.430 --> 00:37:54.649
Here as on many farms in the prairies
genetically engineered canola is being grown.
00:37:54.650 --> 00:37:59.704
And unlike the organic farmer wing
black isn\'t allowed to keep his seeds.
00:37:59.705 --> 00:38:03.229
He\'s obliged by a contract
with the company Monsanto
00:38:03.230 --> 00:38:07.234
to return any harvested canola
seeds that didn\'t go to market.
00:38:07.235 --> 00:38:11.194
That means he can\'t replant them
or sell them at a later date.
00:38:11.195 --> 00:38:15.750
It\'s the company\'s way of keeping
control of the canola crops.
00:38:17.830 --> 00:38:22.879
These tiny seeds have been
fortified against pesticides so
00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:27.964
Wayne can spray his field with a powerful
weed killer and not harm the canola
00:38:27.965 --> 00:38:31.129
Under the contract we\'re
obligated to deliver to
00:38:31.130 --> 00:38:32.839
a crushing crushing company all of
00:38:32.840 --> 00:38:36.079
the rigor all of genetically
altered canola that we grow.
00:38:36.080 --> 00:38:40.129
And as you can see a little bit was just
kinda stuck in the bottom of the beam there.
00:38:40.130 --> 00:38:43.290
And that\'s the genetically altered canola
00:38:43.510 --> 00:38:49.624
There\'s a global patent on the gene that\'s
been inserted into these canola seeds.
00:38:49.625 --> 00:38:54.960
The company agree VO owns a similar
patent on its canola variety.
00:38:56.890 --> 00:39:02.629
Or would be in violation of a law
if he kept his own seed and sold
00:39:02.630 --> 00:39:07.849
it sold that seed to any other
customer brands Kennedy
00:39:07.850 --> 00:39:10.939
argues that patents are necessary
for companies to recoup
00:39:10.940 --> 00:39:14.329
their investment because it
costs about a $100 million to
00:39:14.330 --> 00:39:20.209
develop a new seed a patent or abuse of
plant breeder rights by by a plant breeder
00:39:20.210 --> 00:39:26.464
is is a mechanism which entitle set
00:39:26.465 --> 00:39:32.329
Developer to some rights it assures
that developer that if his product if
00:39:32.330 --> 00:39:38.659
this product is commercialized that he\'s
protected against others using that product.
00:39:38.660 --> 00:39:41.809
It protects him in that sense and allows
00:39:41.810 --> 00:39:43.639
the marketplace to provide him with
00:39:43.640 --> 00:39:46.099
some returns on his investment
over a certain period of
00:39:46.100 --> 00:39:49.789
time and of course now this is being
00:39:49.790 --> 00:39:53.989
manifest most blatantly in the
patenting of lifeforms the patenting
00:39:53.990 --> 00:39:57.739
of genetic material the
patenting of seeds and
00:39:57.740 --> 00:40:02.209
claiming that somehow
we can own life. And I
00:40:02.210 --> 00:40:03.844
think it\'s outrageous.
00:40:03.845 --> 00:40:07.129
These people did not invent this
material they\'ve shuffled it around but
00:40:07.130 --> 00:40:12.124
the delay claim on something
that nature creates.
00:40:12.125 --> 00:40:16.864
I don\'t I mean it\'s no more reasonable than
wanting to patent my baby or something.
00:40:16.865 --> 00:40:18.619
You know it\'s the same same as that.
00:40:18.620 --> 00:40:20.314
No this is not morally acceptable.
00:40:20.315 --> 00:40:24.154
Even Wayne black thinks there
should be limits on biotechnology.
00:40:24.155 --> 00:40:26.374
He draws the line at his animals.
00:40:26.375 --> 00:40:31.969
Livestock to us are are are living things
where well we know plants are living things.
00:40:31.970 --> 00:40:36.934
Well they don\'t seem to have the same
liveliness as a living animal does.
00:40:36.935 --> 00:40:40.759
I don\'t have any problems
whatsoever with with genetically
00:40:40.760 --> 00:40:44.479
altering our canola and the other
crops that will come down the road
00:40:44.480 --> 00:40:47.149
I don\'t have to think about
whether or not I would be
00:40:47.150 --> 00:40:51.090
supportive of doing that in our
livestock curves at the moment.
00:40:51.250 --> 00:40:54.124
Sciences we\'ve found out.
00:40:54.125 --> 00:40:56.794
It\'s not just a study of things.
00:40:56.795 --> 00:40:59.389
It always opens up new questions.
00:40:59.390 --> 00:41:02.989
It opens up new abilities and with
genetic engineering we\'ve reached
00:41:02.990 --> 00:41:07.039
a point where all of a sudden
we can create new organisms.
00:41:07.040 --> 00:41:09.469
These students in Saskatchewan
are familiar with
00:41:09.470 --> 00:41:12.499
the topic many of their
families work in agriculture.
00:41:12.500 --> 00:41:16.864
So decisions on whether to embrace the
new technology are already being formed.
00:41:16.865 --> 00:41:21.379
You don\'t know what kind of effect
the genetically altered plants will
00:41:21.380 --> 00:41:23.479
have on our environment and on
00:41:23.480 --> 00:41:26.629
other plants that maybe they
crossbreed with or anything like that.
00:41:26.630 --> 00:41:28.849
Things like cloning cows and stuff.
00:41:28.850 --> 00:41:33.169
They maybe certain bacterias
that will kill off that whole
00:41:33.170 --> 00:41:35.569
that whole herd of cows looking
00:41:35.570 --> 00:41:38.764
your canola is right now you\'re
getting herbicide resistant.
00:41:38.765 --> 00:41:41.389
So you just go in and
spray your entire field.
00:41:41.390 --> 00:41:43.384
It takes up just about all the weeds.
00:41:43.385 --> 00:41:45.784
And that\'s a good way of
cleaning up your field.
00:41:45.785 --> 00:41:49.939
We can produce better crops
maybe for a cheaper cost.
00:41:49.940 --> 00:41:53.269
But what happens if we start
thinking alive this power to
00:41:53.270 --> 00:41:57.319
create and then we take it to
a new level and say well I
00:41:57.320 --> 00:42:02.464
want to look a certain way or I want to
have children that act a certain way
00:42:02.465 --> 00:42:05.119
are we going to take that power
too far and create something that
00:42:05.120 --> 00:42:08.629
we shouldn\'t or try and play God
00:42:08.630 --> 00:42:14.760
After 40 years of farming gourd
Hamlin wouldn\'t think of playing God.
00:42:18.940 --> 00:42:23.284
He and his wife Hilda have learned
that you can\'t control nature.
00:42:23.285 --> 00:42:25.500
You have to work with it.
00:42:25.540 --> 00:42:28.879
We\'ve had some bad crops and
we\'ve had some good crops.
00:42:28.880 --> 00:42:33.589
So it\'s something that you just
have the name of the game.
00:42:33.590 --> 00:42:36.949
You have to be able to accept
some whims and some losses.
00:42:36.950 --> 00:42:40.549
That\'s just the way agriculture
is and Mother Nature.
00:42:40.550 --> 00:42:46.380
Meeting. Vacation.
00:42:50.200 --> 00:42:57.064
Even if gourd Hamlin gets his way if the
biotechnology revolution is somehow slowed down.
00:42:57.065 --> 00:43:01.129
Or if there are new government
controls for these new foods one thing
00:43:01.130 --> 00:43:06.030
is for certain nature will
never be the same again.
00:43:11.230 --> 00:43:15.390
For the National i\'m jennifer Scott