Ongoing CropLife Canada Campaign
by Ann SlaterFrom Ecological Farming in Ontario, September - October, 2006
Thanks to EFAO member, Gayl Creutzberg, for letting me know about one of the latest CropLife Canada initiatives to promote the use of pesticides. The 2006 edition of Harvest Ontario, available at Home Hardware stores across the province, includes an insert from Croplife Canada. I have not laid my hands on a copy of Harvest Ontario 2006 but their website indicates the sponsors of the guide include Home Hardware, CropLife Canada, GayLea, Bernardin, Chicken Farmers of Ontario, Farmers' Markets Ontario (FMO), Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association and Farm and Country Accomodations.
According to Gayl the insert includes comments like pesticides are the equivalent to medicines doctors use and that there is a threat of attack (from pests) around every corner. Gayl has written a letter voicing her concern to Harvest Ontario. Many of us belong to some of the above sponsoring organizations like FMO, through the farmers' markets we sell at, and may also want to voice our concerns.
A July 24, 2006 press release from CropLife Canada, titled Latest Test Results Affirm Safety of Canada's Food Supply, claims that foods sold in Canada are extremely safe and largely free from any chemical residues. CropLife Canada analyzed data from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to show that more than 80% of tested food items had no detectable amounts of any residues and that only about one percent were in excess of the Maximum Residue Limits set by Health Canada.
Peter MacLeod, the Executive Director of Crop Protection Chemistry for CropLife Canada, claims, "You'd suffer from health problems related to overeating long before any possible chemical exposure issue came into play." The press release goes on to say, "Studies suggest that without the benefit of crop protection products like pesticides, farm yields would be cut in half, prices of fruits and vegetables would skyrocket by 50% to 100%." This information was apparently provided in a report by Safefood Consulting Inc., Guelph, but there is no indication on who did the studies.
The president of Safefood Consulting Inc. is Dr. Doug Powell, a long time provider of mis-information on organic food and farming. According to their website, Safefood Consulting provides a variety of writing and consulting services about risk management, risk communication, food product development and crisis planning.
CropLife Canada says they are the trade association representing the developers, manufacturers and distributors of plant science innovations - pest control products and plant biotechnology - for use in agriculture, urban and public health settings.
