Topic: 2024-GMOs and Food Security
Country: Canada
Delegate Name: George Gostenik
GMOs (otherwise known as Genetically Modified Organisms) are organisms whos genetic material has been altered through non-natural processes by enhancing certain characteristics and getting rid of others. GMOs especially benefit poorer countries by accelerating crop growth. Our country uses GMOs to create herbicides to destroy unwanted vegetation. An estimated 244% of herbicide sales have increased since the introduction of GMOs in 1994 (as of 2021). The UN has negotiated a biosafety protocol to regulate the international movement of GMOs and ensure that they are completely safe to use.
As a first-world country, Canada benefits from GMOs less than 3rd world countries due to them having a higher GDP and being able to afford food production, so we are willing to help other countries if needed. Canada does not allow the sale of GM foods unless Health Canada’s scientists approve that they are safe and nutritious. As of 2019, 140 GM foods have been permitted for sale in Canada. The GM foods we have reviewed are as safe and nutritious as non-GM foods. If new information arises regarding the safety of GM foods, we will review the data carefully and take appropriate action if we identify risks or concerns from eating these foods. We use the comparative approach to determine if a GM food is safe and nutritious. We participate in the work of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) working group for the safety of novel foods and feeds.
The Dominion of Canada encourages the UN to create regulations on GM foods to avoid the risks associated with them such as toxic and allergenic compounds. Data on these foods must be reviewed carefully, and we recommend that other countries use the Comparative approach to determine if a GMO is safe or not. We have made specific regulations for GM foods to ensure our country’s people are not affected by any type of GMO.
Sources:
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/genetically-modified-foods-other-novel-foods/safety.html
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6343528/#:~:text=ABSTRACT,modified%20organisms%2C%E2%80%9D%20or%20LMOs.
https://cban.ca/gmos/issues/environmental-impacts/#:~:text=Herbicide%20sales%20in%20Canada%20have,be%20killed%20by%20those%20herbicides.
