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Story Posted: 2011-01-01
Biotechnology and Canola Oil
Source: CanolaInfo, Category:
Health & Nutrition
Q. What is Biotechnology?
A. Biotechnology, as defined in the Canadian
Environmental Protection Act, is the application of science and engineering
in the direct or indirect use of living organisms, or parts or products
of living organisms, in their natural or modified forms.
Q. What is Genetic Engineering?
A. The term genetic engineering is often used
interchangeably with biotechnology. Genetic engineering refers to the
identification and transfer of genetic information from one organism
to another. The process called genetic engineering involves the insertion
of a gene or genes from one species to another species. This method
of gene transfer enabling the crossing of species barriers was not previously
possible using traditional methods of plant or animal breeding. Products
developed by biotechnology are sometimes described as 'genetically engineered'
or genetically modified'.
Sources: Canola & Biotechnology, Canola Information
Service; Citizen's Conference Website: FAQs - www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~pubconf/whatis.html
Q. What are the benefits of biotechnology?
A. Genetically engineered plant varieties can
offer farmers crops that are less vulnerable to pests and weather conditions.
For example, potato beetle resistant potato, virus resistant squash,
insect-resistant corn, herbicide tolerant canola, herbicide tolerant
soybean).
Source: Crop Biotechnology: Harvesting the Benefits
- Saskatchewan Agricultural Biotechnology Information Center (SABIC),
Ag-West Biotech Inc.
Q. What are some examples of genetically modified products?
A. Crops with "novel traits" which
have been approved for use in Canada include:
- Corn: herbicide resistant,
insect resistant and insect resistant and herbicide tolerant, hybridized
corn system
- Canola: herbicide tolerant
canola, specialty oil canolas, hybridized canola system
- Tomato (approved but not grown in Canada):
delayed ripening tomato, reduced pectin degradation tomato
- Potato: potato beetle resistant potato
- Soybean: herbicide
tolerant soybean
- Cotton (approved for import into Canada):
insect resistant cotton, herbicide resistant cotton
- Flax (approved but not grown commercially):
herbicide tolerant flax
- Squash: virus resistant squash
Source: Crop Biotechnology: Harvesting the Benefits
- Saskatchewan Agricultural Biotechnology Information Centre (SABIC),
Ag-West Biotech Inc.
Q. How can I be sure genetically engineered products
are safe?
A. Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency share responsibilities for the safety of novel foods developed
using agricultural biotechnology.
Health Canada is responsible for the regulation of
"Novel Foods". Novel foods include those that have not previously
been used as food, food resulting from genetic modification and foods
modified from traditional products using new processes or microorganisms.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency conducts safety
assessments on fertilizers, seeds, plants, animals, animal vaccines
or diagnostics, feeds and food labeling policies with respect to non-health
and safety matters.
Each biotech product is assessed on a case-by-case
basis. Only products which meet standards set by these agencies and
which are considered safe for humans plants, animals and the environment
will be approved.
Source: A Growing Appetite For Information, The Consumers
Association of Canada
Q. What labels are required for genetically engineered/modified
foods?
A. Labeling is voluntary. Since the application
of biotechnology is generally regarded as an extension of existing breeding
techniques, the regulatory framework applied to traditional food products
is deemed to be suitable for biotechnology products.
Whenever the genetic engineering of a product involves
a health or safety issue, it must be labeled. These could include allergenicity
or a change in nutritional value, i.e. a tomato modified to contain
higher levels of lycopene.
Food manufacturers may choose to use labels promoting
the fact that the products have or have not been modified through genetic
engineering.
Source: A Growing Appetite For Information, The Consumers
Association of Canada
Q. Can genetically modified foods be organically certified?
A. The organic agricultural industry has decided
to classify genetically modified foods as not suitable for organic certification.
Thus, consumers purchasing organically certified products are assured
the products do not contain genetically altered ingredients.
Source: Citizen's Conference Website: www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~pubconf/whatis.html
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