Ecosystems require livestock to be healthy In the discussion of future food security and climate change, a common statement made by eNGOs is that one of our staple food sources, livestock protein, needs to be eliminated from human consumption to meet future food demands as well as GHG emission targets. …
By: Andie Hadway, University of Saskatchewan Student Many Canadians want to ensure they are purchasing the best food possible for themselves and their families. The problem facing Canadians is that many of them are not informed enough about the production process of their food. Purchasing food from local farmers connects consumers and …
Organic label controversy By Gordon Willison, University of Saskatchewan Student For some, organic farming is a controversial topic, there are serious issues regarding the trade policies that the United States imposes on organic imports. Canada and the U.S. have an agreement of equivalency (USCOEA) that ensures organic imports are assessed …
By Robert Wager, Vancouver Island University I’ve had the great pleasure of being a faculty member of the Biology Department of Vancouver Island University for the past 23 years. My area of research is agricultural biotechnology with an emphasis on public outreach. The world has seen a great change in …
Manipulative marketing campaign cast doubts about government risk assessments Two weeks ago, Stonyfield Farms launched a marketing campaign that champions lies and misperceptions surrounding food, its safety and the experts that determine food safety. If you haven’t seen the ad, kids are provided with scripts loaded with false statements about …
Losing a harvest can devastate a farm When the thought of crop loss comes to mind, it’s common to think of drought, flooding or hail, as these are certainly devastating. While they certainly are the most common losses for large-scale, bulk commodity production, the same can’t be said for smaller …
Which does the public believe is more natural? Far too often, academics remain secluded within the walls of their ‘ivory towers’, unaware of the interests and concerns of society. An example of this was provided in the fall of 2017, with the release of a survey finding that 58% of …
Food has historically brought us together, but will 3D food printing cause us to lose those connections? The development of 3D (three-dimensional) printer technology has led to some spectacular things from customized tools to cars. The process of printing layer on top of layers has turned regular 2D paper printers …
Is Halloween a front to sell more of a sugary GM plant? What is scarier? The ghosts and goblins that come to your door tonight trick or treating or the candy you’re handing out that likely has sugar in it that comes from a GM plant? Well, some would have …
I’ve been frustrated by the ‘verification’ labelling of non-GMO foods which fail to have GMO equivalents in the market. This past summer I decided to share these frustrations with the CFIA regarding the labelling of cherry tomatoes. I submitted a complaint to the CFIA about the non-GMO labelling of cherry …
