During a panel discussion Iย wasย onceย asked, if I could change one thing about agriculture in Canada what would it be?ย My answer, I would remove labels. I would get rid of the arbitrary distinction that separates โorganicโ from โconventionalโ so we can instead focus on the bottom line: sustainability.
Because ultimatelyย thatโsย why I do what I do.ย Iโveย been an environmentalist for as long as I can remember. From saving the ozone layer to protecting the rainforests,ย Iโveย been passionate about reducing our carbon footprint and protecting the environment since I was a small child. Which is, in part, how I ended up as a geneticist.
I could write a wholeย bookย on why I am excited about the role genetics can play in saving the environment.ย Andย itโs part ofย why I really hate labels.ย Letโsย look at what could go on an organic label, for example.ย According to the USDA, โOrganicย isย a labelingย term forย foodย orย otherย agricultural products that have been produced using cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that support the cycling of on-farm resources, promoteย ecologicalย balance,ย andย conserve biodiversity in accordance with theย USDA organic regulations.โ
Promoteย ecological balanceย andย conserveย biodiversity? Where do I sign?!ย The problem comes at the end of that sentence;ย โin accordance with USDA organic regulationsโ.
USDA organic regulationsย go on toย describe organic standardsย plusย theย List of Allowed and Prohibited Substancesย โ they are mostly natural, but with dozens of exemptions for synthetic versions. Itย explicitly excludes the use of so-called โgenetically modified organismsโ.ย ย For a scientist, that is a big issue. The List isย entirely founded on a logical fallacy (Appeal to Nature);ย exempts synthetic stuff they really like even if itโs not organic;ย creates aย false dichotomyย that leaves people with the misperception that there are only two choices;ย and ignores a full spectrum of choices that lie between two apparent extremes (organicย versus conventional).
We scientists are trying to promoteย ecological balance andย conserveย biodiversityย while feeding a growing populationย projectedย to reachย 9.7 billion peopleย by 2050.ย Theย planetย isnโtย getting any bigger and most of the land thatโs suitable for farming is already beingย farmed, so weย can make poor quality land better by optimizing plants for those climates, and continue toย get more yield out of our existing agricultural land using fewer inputs.
New plant breeding methods can help us meet this challenge. They allowย us to develop crops that can deliver essential nutrients to chronically malnourished populations,ย with applications likeย Golden Riceย orย biofortifiedย sweet potatoes;ย ย address plant diseases that threaten food security in the developing world such as wilt-resistant bananasย and virus-resistant cassava;ย improve resilience withย drought-tolerant cultivars of staple crops; and reduce post-harvest waste throughย non-browning applesย andย longer-lasting lettuce. I could go on but I think you get the pictureโฆ
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Modernย breeding methods reduce our reliance on inputs like water, fertilizers,ย andย pesticides,ย and help us feed more people from our existing agricultural lands. As such, they promote ecological balance and help conserve biodiversity and should beย absolutely consistentย with the principles of organic production.ย Weย need all the tools in the toolbox;ย it seems nonsensical to throw certain tools out of the window because theyย donโtย fit a set of criteriaย solelyย developed to describe a labelling standardย about a process.
Technology and progressย areย why Canadaโs agricultural soilsย are now aย net sink for carbonย andย why ourย biodiversity index has shown steady and consistent improvementsย sinceย beingย implemented in 1981. These improvements are the direct result of innovation in agriculture andย should be embracedย by all farmers. Yet the organic label prohibits their adoption.ย Itย makes no sense.
Weย need to all be pulling in the same direction to maximize yield while minimizingย environmental impact.ย Labels create a false dichotomy that leavesย the publicย thinking that they have to pick between two opposing philosophies.ย Itโsย a lose-lose situation, and the biggest loser will beย the environment that we are leaving for future generations.ย Soย letโsย do away with the labels andย focus on finding the best tools for the job.
Maria Trainer, Ph.D., is Managing Director, Science and Regulatory Affairs at CropLife Canada, the trade association representing plant biotechnology companies, and a member of the American Council on Science and Health Board of Scientific Advisors. Follow her on Twitterย @mariaatย
This article was originally published at theย American Council on Science and Health’sย website as โWhy I Hate Labelsโ and has been republished here with permission from the author.
