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  • From: shepherd ogden <shepogden AT yahoo.com>
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Market-farming] Gene Revolution
  • Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 10:43:14 -0700 (PDT)

A growing controversy

May 25, 2004


The Toronto Star
A26
In its ruling on patent protection for genetically modified crops, the Supreme Court of Canada has, according to this editorial, sown the seeds for an even bigger battle over bioengineering.
The editorial says that the court did not rule on Schmeiser's claim that Monsanto seeds contaminated his fields without his knowledge. Nor did the court rule on "the wisdom and social utility of the genetic modification of genes and cells," a practice authorized under the Patent Act, but which is hotly debated.
And it stood by the landmark Harvard mouse decision of 2002, which said higher life forms cannot be patented. Even though a plant is a higher life form, the court ruled, a gene in a plant can be patented, and that gives the patent-holder rights over the plant's use. Biotechnology groups will welcome this decision, but it is chilling news for environmentalists, organic farmers and others who have legitimate concerns about tinkering with forms of life.
The Monsanto case raises difficult questions about how modified genetic material can be controlled once it is created. The editorial says that the court rightly tossed this hot potato back to Canada's lawmakers.
Rapidly developing agricultural technology, it said, may give rise to "moral concerns about whether it is right to manipulate genes in order to obtain better weed control or higher yields. It is open to Parliament to consider these concerns and amend the Patent Act should it find them persuasive." Public awareness of this issue is much higher in Europe, where genetically modified foods remain widely unpopular.
It is time Canadians had a full and open debate on the merits and pitfalls of bioengineering.



  • [Market-farming] Gene Revolution, shepherd ogden, 05/25/2004

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