Dr. Joe Schwarcz of McGill University speaks frankly with Sean Haney of RealAgriculture [http://realagriculture.com/home.php] on the relatively new processes around genetic modification and public perceptions about it. Excerpts:

“It’s a technology [modern biotechnology] that’s only a quarter century old at most which is nothing but a [mere moment] in time. But what we have seen is the demonstration of a principle. It can be done….Sure, to date, it hasn’t had a huge impact [for the consumer] but where it’s going is very exciting… we will see great changes and developments with food science and technology.”

“It’s not an unreasonable argument for a consumer to choose not to consume products made from GM… I am not against labelling. In fact, I think that they missed the boat on that one very early in the process. What not label it? Why not say, ‘Enhanced through Genetic Modification’. As soon as you create the impression that you don’t want to label something, it demonstrates that you are trying to hide something.”