Technology
Learn GMO Episode 3 of 4: Why are there two kinds of farming?
In LEARN GMO, the ever skeptical always critical Nick Saik spends time talking about food production with his dad Rob, who has had a long career in the Ag industry. Nick is unsure about the way we grow food in the modern world. Corporate control, poisonous chemicals, dangerous genetic modifications… all of these issues keep Nick worried about food. Rob however, has a great deal of confidence in the modern food system. In fact, he thinks food production is more abundant, cheaper, and safer than it’s ever been. Who’s right?
In Episode 3 of Learn GMO, nick grapples with his confusion over the different kinds of farming he’s heard about. Conventional farming, sustainable farming, organic farming, regenerative farming, what does it all mean? Nick is sure that there must be one kind of farming that is the best method, but Rob keeps trying to tell Nick that the best method depends on the situation. Nick gets a lesson on what Organic farming is, and is not, from Raoul Adamchak, an organic farmer who teaches organic practices at UC Davis in California. Nick’s entire moral framework is challenged upon learning that Raoul is married to a geneticist, but soon learns that Genetic Engineering and Organic farming don’t have to be separate. In fact, Dr. Roger Beachy informs Nick that it was a choice to keep the two things separate, and that our current food system is the result of that choice.
This video was produced by Know Ideas Media
Agriculture
Canadian Federation of Agriculture Awarded $560,000 for Single Portal Sustainability Sourcing
Canadian Federation of Agriculture Awarded $560,000 for Single Portal Sustainability Sourcing
Green certifications have become increasingly important in the food industry, as consumers look for confirmation that their food is being produced and processed in an environmentally friendly manner. In Canada, there has been a recent movement of concerned consumers looking for more transparency within the food industry. Organizations like Food Secure Canada advocate for a better food system that improves the connection between health, sustainability and agriculture.
In February 2020, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food stated that the Canadian Federation of Agriculture would invest in a new sustainability initiative. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the largest farm organization in Canada, representing over 200,000 farms. The organization has played a critical role in advancing environmental sustainability practices within the food industry.
The Canadian Agri-Food Sustainability Initiative (CASI) will work with farmers, manufacturers, food processors and retailers to improve transparency in the Canadian food system. The initiative will promote sustainability through an integrated process that depends on data and collaboration to transform the food industry and improve relations with consumers.
The Canadian Food System
Canada is one of the top five exporters of food in the world. The Canadian agriculture and agri-food system generates over $100 billion in sales annually and employs over 2 million people. The agricultural food system is a significant player in Canada’s economic wealth and stability. However, like other large agricultural exporters — such as the United States — Canada has faced recent scrutiny over their production practices. Many large-scale and industrialized agriculture productions are harmful to the environment and detrimental to human health.
With such a large proportion of Canadian food exported, many domestic consumers distrust the public policies that lack transparency over the industry’s environmental impact and unsafe production practices. With the creation of the Candian Agri-Food Sustainability Initiative, the federal government hopes to facilitate improved sustainability throughout the food industry.
The Canadian Agri-Food Sustainability Initiative
The Canadian Agri-Food Sustainability Initiative includes a federal investment of $560,000. These funds will go toward the creation of an online forum that advances the analytic capabilities of producers and farmers. By creating a new network around sustainability, the project hopes to track the progress of sustainable practices in the Canadian food industry.
The initiative will also help producers and processors work together to certify products with sustainability labels that consumers are looking for. The Canadian Agri-Food Sustainability Initiative will rely on data analytics and real-time analysis of food production and processing to find solutions to unsustainable issues. From a consumer standpoint, it will increase trust in the use of food labels and regulate claims regarding the quality of various products.
Sustainability in the Agri-Food Industry
Canada’s agricultural system relies on the production of corn, potatoes, soybeans and commodity grains like wheat. Western parts of Canada have a higher production of beef, while the Eastern side focuses more on poultry. Unlike other top food exporters, Canada has been steadily growing the organic aspect of their production processes at a rate of 20% per year.
However, the percentage of land utilized for organic farming is meager — around 1.8 percent in 2017. Despite this, organic products still valued around $5.4 billion in both domestic and exported goods.
With such an economic reliance on the agricultural industry, the farm community, consumers and other concerned citizens are working together to ensure they manage Canadian soil more responsibly. According to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, solutions like climate change research, bioeconomic strategy and the continuation of research and innovation within the industry will be key to future success.
Improving the Future of Canadian Agriculture
With this new initiative in place, agriculturists can have more confidence in growing organic products. Consumers, too, will be able to put their trust in the food industry, knowing the food they’re purchasing was grown sustainably.
https://www.todayville.com/what-the-usmca-might-mean-for-agriculture-and-biotechnology/
’m Emily Folk, and I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania. Growing up I had a love of animals, and after countless marathons of watching Animal Planet documentaries, I developed a passion for ecology and conservation. You can read more of my work by clicking this link: Conservation Folks.
Is GMO natural? It’s a simple question with a complex answer. Maybe nature is the ultimate genetic engineer. This video features Dr. Russell Nagata of the University of Hawaii.
Information Source Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History…
http://www.genetics.org/content/148/3…
http://www.whatislife.ie/cambridge.htm
https://www.popsci.com/technology/art…
This video was produced independently by Know Ideas Media
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