Dear Editor,
Putting all the emerging health concerns about the rampant use of RoundUp/Glyphosate aside for a moment, I would like to look briefly at what are the other affects of this style of agriculture. Especially for our rural economy.
RoundUp was originally promoted as a way of reducing pesticide use for farmers. Instead it has caused the natural development of “superweeds” resistant to glyphosate/RoundUp. This has spurred an even greater use of pesticides than were in use before this technology was first introduced. Poisons have become totally the norm for growing conventional food.
This results in more money being spent on chemicals by farmers. Money that leaves this rural area.
The introduction of RoundUp Ready seeds coincided with the choice by governments in Canada to cut back and cut out traditional programs to develop new varieties of seeds that were publicly owned. Instead farmers are now dependent on Monsanto and other chemical companies for their seeds. Seed saving and sharing is rare. The era of the independent self-sufficient farmer is passing. Control of farms is passing over to multinational corporations and banks.
The recent development (and approval in the USA) of a genetically modified (GM) Arctic apple is a clear case in point of government giving power to corporations. The Arctic apple was lab developed in BC for the simple reason that its flesh will not brown in store and restaurant bought pre-packaged salads. What looks fresh will not be fresh.
It turns out that in Eastern Canada an apple with the same properties had already been developed in a government research project by normal breeding methods. It was nearing release of its products. With the development of the Arctic GM apple, all funding of the non-GM non-browning apple was cut. The research station was shut down and the scientists/agronomists were moved to other places and other projects. Is this in the public’s interest? A patented apple tree that will pollenate non-GM apple trees, putting GM genes into other apples?
Canada has a $40 billion food trade deficit. We’re told that Canada must feed the world with grains and beans, yet we can’t feed Canadians. Instead we’re dependent on China, the USA, Chile and Mexico (amongst others) for our fruit and vegetables. Canadian farmers used to be able to grow enough food to feed Canadians. No longer. Instead we have allowed Free Trade to shut down processing plants in the Niagara and elsewhere, leaving fruit and vegetable farmers with no market for their big produce crops.
Prices of corn and soy are rarely enough to keep up with the payments of the combines to harvest them, and for the payments for the seeds and poisons to grow them. This GM & export policy of Canada does not work for farmers. Especially for small family farmers, like in Renfrew County. And it really makes it hard for younger folks to consider getting in to farming.
As Judy Sauve said in her excellent letter in the Eganville Leader last week — We have to speak up now about this; before Harper’s Bill C-51 makes us all “public enemies” and “terrorists” for speaking up about Corporate economic policies.
Speaking of Bill C-51,which is based on corporate-media created fear, speak up now. Ignore your rights and they will go away.
To your health,
Robbie Anderman
Killaloe
