Frequently Asked Questions
| Q. | What is plant biotechnology? | |
| A. | Plant biotechnology has been around for centuries. Consider the tomato, potato or corn. Only through patient plant breeding were negative traits such as bitterness and low yields removed and replaced with more desirable traits such as sweetness and robust harvests. The same painstaking work resulted in the seedless varieties of grapes, watermelon and bananas. Modern plant biotechnology is simply an extension of the same principles used by previous generations to make products like these that we take for granted today. Today's biotechnology has scientists isolating specific DNA sequences responsible for a particular characteristic or “trait”. By working with the DNA, they are able to increase the beneficial traits that are not currently achievable merely through traditional plant breeding. Biotechnology is being used to create crops that are better for our health and our environment. |
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| Q. | Do GM foods look or taste different? | |
| A. | With few exceptions, GM products look and taste the same as their conventional counterparts. One example of a GM product being researched that looks different is "golden rice." This rice has a distinctive orange colour due to the increased level of Vitamin A brought about by genetic engineering. | |
| Q. | The technology is so new. How can we know it is safe? | |
| A. |
Biotechnology has been used for thousands of years to produce improved food and health care products.
Today, modern biotechnology allows us to develop products more safely and rapidly than ever before through a new process called genetic engineering or the movement of genes from one species to another. This speeds up the process of breeding desirable traits into plants. Foods made from biotechnology are safe to consume and safe for the environment. To ensure that our food is safe and nutritious, Canada has one of the most rigorous and well respected regulatory approval processes in the world. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada each play a role in ensuring the safety of our food. CFIA has the primary responsibility for genetically modified organisms. Crops produced by biotechnology must meet the same rigorous standards as those created through traditional means. |
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| Q. | Is it true that 70 per cent of our foods are genetically modified? | |
| A. | No, the fact is that 70 per cent of processed foods may contain an ingredient of biotech such as canola or soybean or corn. | |
| Q. | How long have GM foods been available in Canada? | |
| A. | GM crops were first approved in Canada in 1995. The first crop to be registered was genetically modified canola. Field trials for environmental safety of transgenic varieties have been conducted for 12 consecutive growing seasons in Canada. More than 5000 field trials with GMO crops have been conducted here since 1988. | |
| Q. | Who is responsible for the approval and regulation of GM foods in Canada? What criteria are used to assess them? | |
| A. | All products of biotechnology are carefully assessed by Canadian federal authorities and other experts to ensure that they are safe for people, animals, plants, and our environment. Whether the product arises from biotechnology or conventional methods, the regulatory process is the same. Each must undergo extensive testing in order to ensure both human health and environmental safety and that Canadians are receiving the safest food products possible. | |
| Q. | Why aren't genetically modified foods labelled? | |
| A. | Genetically modified foods are treated exactly the same as other new foods seeking entrance to the marketplace. Whenever a product raises a health or safety issue, such as allergencity or a change in nutritional value, it must be labelled. | |
| Q. | Why don't farmers just go back to growing non-GM crops? | |
| A. | Farmers have the choice to grow either conventional or GM, but there are many benefits to growing GM crops so it isn't surprising that more and more farmers are planting GM crops. | |
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