The City of Richmond has bagged another first in the Lower Mainland.
Richmond city council declared Tuesday that it will no longer allow GE (genetically engineered) crops to be grown in the city.
The bold move which was passed unanimously by a general purposes committee, but will still have to be approved by full council next week was a step further than that recommended by city staff, who suggested lobbying senior levels of government for mandatory labelling of foods that contain ingredients from genetically engineered crops.
City councils decision was no doubt influenced by the swell of anti-GE crops supporters who filled city hall and spoke passionately about their fears of the genetically modified farming practice.
Richmond food security champion Arzeena Hamir was overjoyed and surprised by the decision, even though she acknowledged the fact the city has little powers to enforce such a ban GE crops are federally regulated.
Its pretty awesome; going into the meeting, I wasnt so sure this would happen, said Hamir.
I think the passion showed by the people who turned out for the meeting definitely had an effect. It became more and more clear that the regular consumer is consuming GE food without even knowing.
I know the city has little power to enforce it, but it carries a much stronger message to the federal government.
Coun. Harold Steves, himself a lifelong Richmond farmer, had plenty to say on the subject of GE crops, having turned in a thesis on cross-breeding of plants and animals while at university in his youth.
GE crops is a form of cross-breeding and hybridization, crossing species with species, said Steves.
GE crops are modified with bacteria to resist the likes of Round Up when its sprayed, but that Round Up is retained in that crop. I know I wouldnt like to drink Round Up.
Its quite simple; if we grow GE crops next to organic crops, there will be cross-contamination and we will be consuming GE crops whether we know it or not.
Steves is also worried about the future of his prized cattle on his farm, which feed for most of the year on alfalfa, a grassy clover that is high in protein.
B.C.s ranching farmers such as Steves are fighting the federal government to keep GE alfalfa out of the province.
Were highly dependent on alfalfa. If theres cross contamination from the GE crop, there will be no guarantee were not feeding it to our organic herds, he added.
Emily Pearson whos been farming organic vegetables and flowers out of a two-acre plot at Urban Edibles, off the Steveston Highway, for the last year was one of the many who spoke out at the meeting.
Its very exciting that were going to be one of the first major cities in Canada for this to happen, said 24-year-old Pearson, who belongs to a new stream of young organic farmers filtering into Richmond.
Its clear (city council) listened to us and they should be proud of their decision; it will set a precedent for all other cities in the area.
Like Hamir, Pearson recognizes the city cant enforce any ban, but she pointed out that it shows who is now welcome in the city and who is not.
More organic farmers will hear about this and know they are welcome to come here and grow without fear of cross contamination from pollination, she said.
The records show that there is GE corn grown in Richmond and, for that reason, I wont grow corn here because I cant take the risk of producing contaminated products.
Under the motions passed, Richmond will seek stronger labelling requirements and integrate education about consumer choice and awareness of the issues raised by genetically modified organisms - known as GMOs or GE crops - into the city's public outreach programs. Because GE crops are federally regulated, Richmond is limited in its ability to enforce the ban, but proponents of the motion are delighted with the message it sends.
Only three farms in Richmond are known to be growing genetically engineered crops, according to Steves.
Rossland, Kaslo, Nelson, Powell River and Saltspring Island have also passed motions opposing genetically modified organ-isms within their boundaries.
GE crops are created by taking genetic material from one living thing and pasting it into another, often to provide resistance to pests or chemical pesticides.
Most of the major commodity crops - maize (corn), soy, canola and cotton - grown in Canada and the U.S. are GE, and more than 80 per cent of pack-aged foods contain the products of those crops. Neither Canada nor the U.S. requires foods with GMOs to be labelled, though many European countries do.
With a file from the Vancouver Sun
