GMO Developments Where is Canada Going? WELCOME TO CHFA WEST! April 12, 2013
Agenda GMO Labeling: Past and Present California s Proposition 37 Current Situation GMO Labeling: Future? CHFA s GMO Working Group Panel Discussion Maria Emmer-Aanes, Nature s Path, Dag Falck, Nature s Path & Non-GMO Project Courtney Pineau, Assistant Director, Non-GMO Project Arran Stephens, CEO and Co-Founder, Nature's Path page1 2
GMO Developments Where is Canada Going? Maria Emmer-Aanes Director of Marketing & Communications Dag Falck Organic Program Manager
What You ll Discover Our Beliefs What Shoppers Want What We ve Accomplished Where Canada is Going Q&A with Arran Stephens
Our Beliefs
We Believe in Organic We are ALWAYS ORGANIC and have been for 25 years. Our products do not contain artificial preservatives, additives, genetically modified organism (GMOs) or synthetic pesticides. We believe organic foods are healthier for both our customers and the environment.
We Believe in GMO Labeling We firmly believe that citizen s right to know what s in their food. GMO s should be clearly labeled so we can make an informed choice. Our products bear the Non-GMO Project Verified Seal.
What Shoppers Believe
Shoppers Want Safer Food Oprah Moves Into Organic Food: Would You Buy The Talk Show Billionaire's Frozen Vegetables?
Shoppers Want GMO s Labeled Parents concerns intensify following pink slime, corn resistant to the toxic 2,4-D herbicide, and genetically engineered nonbrowning apple controversies. Knowing whether the food they purchase contains GE ingredients is important to 90 % of mothers & 88 % of fathers.
Shoppers Vote with their Dollars Deregulation of GE alfalfa and sugar beets, (GMOs) broke into mainstream media. The GMO debate continues (62 countries, 24 states, 1 federal initiative). Non-GMO Project Verified items growing faster than any other product claim.
Shoppers Trust the NON GMO Seal From 10/1/10-10/1/11, sales of Non-GMO Project Verified products grew to more than $3.8 billion. Natural channel product sales carrying the Non-GMO Project seal expanded by 53% last year. Conventional channel sales of NON GMO products up by a staggering 328%.
Shoppers Want GMO s Labeled Whole Foods Market commits to GMO labeling by 2018. GMO OMG Film Director, Jeremy Seifert appears on OZ. Biotech rider passes through congress protecting Monsanto.
What We ve Accomplished
Right 2 Know March
R2K Integrated Action Goals Raise the issue. Raise the concern. March & Protest Retail Events Right 2 Know In Store Display Social Media Public Relations
GMO Infographic We commissioned a survey of nationwide moms and released the data at the march with a GMO INFOGRAPHIC on national wire. We surveyed a subset of Californian women to help include Nature s Path into the upcoming California GMO Labeling Ballot Initiative conversation.
Raising the Issue We conducted a broadcast media outreach using our spokespeople Ashley Koff, RD and mom Robyn O Brien to local and national media outlets. We reached out to mom, food, nutrition and eco bloggers to join us on the R2K March and online discussions.
Creative March We marched from NYC to the Washington, DC demanding that GMO s be labeled in food. We distributed three armed t-shirts with QR code education to our GMO infographic. We engaged activism with a simple action plan and schedule of events.
Mom s Panel at The White House
California Ballot Initiative
CAR2Know Integrated Action Goals Collect signatures. Get on the 2012 ballot. Signature Gatherings Speaking Engagements CBI Campaign Film Sponsorships Social Media Campaigns Influencer Events
Our Commitment We donated $660,000 to support the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act. We are doing it on behalf the families that eat our food and the farmers that rely on our business.
Signature Gathering at Expo West We designed and printed all the campaign materials. We set up 7 stations and helped facilitate 25 volunteers and collected signatures. We served on the steering committee.
Campaign Materials Banner 8ft. X 20ft. Poster Infographic Campaign Buttons and T-shirts Easel Sign
Reaching Yes on Prop 37 Celebrity PSA, Trust Us PSA, Kids PSA
I am Not a Lab Rat!
We lost We lost. 48.5% of Californians voted YES on Prop 37. Over 1MM signatures collected. Over $5.5MM fundraised against Monsanto s $40MM.
but we will not give up!
GMO OMG Film Sponsorship We donated $150,000 to create a GMO documentary that premiered at the Berlin Film Festival last Saturday. Jeremy Seifert Director Elizabeth Kucinich Producer Joshua Kunau Co Producer
Fight for Your Right to Know! Talk it up! Learn the facts at nongmoproject.org. Buy Organic & Non GMO. Learn who you can trust. Get involved on CBAN.
The Right to Know. #1: We have the right to know what s in the food we re eating and feeding to our families we deserve an informed choice.
The Ethics of Experimentation #2: Genetically engineered foods have not been adequately tested; it s unethical to be putting an experimental technology into the food we feed our families.
Fight for Your Right to Know! #3: Nearly 62 countries require labels on GMOs, and many of these also have severe restrictions or bans against GMO food production or sale. We deserve the same level of protection and information as citizens in other nations around the world.
Invaluable Resources 1. nongmoproject.org 2. naturespath.com 3. cban.ca 4. justlabelit.org 5. gmofilm.com 6. CBC Documentary, The New Green Giants
Where Is Canada Going?
Genetically Engineered Apple? Operation Code name: Arctic Apple Objective: Method: Weapon: Sell apples Confuse consumers Perfect looking bruised, rotten and sliced apples.
GMO Apple Facts Tree fruit Pollinated by insects GMO d to not bruise or turn brown Apple = health NO MORE? Apple seeds can be GMO Gene silencing can it pass on?
Municipalities Passing Non GMO Zones Cherryville became the 11 th BC municipality to pass a resolution to ban GMO crops. 1.Powell River (2004) 2.Nelson (Nov 3, 2008) 3.Kaslo (Jan 13, 2009) 4.New Denver (Sept 8, 2009) 5.Rossland (May 11, 2009) 6. Salt Spring 7. Denman 8. Richmond (May 29, 2012) 9. Saanich (Nov 2012) 10. Metchosin (Nov 2012) 11. Cherryville (March 8, 2013) 12. Telkwa (March 11, 2013)
Municipalities Passing Non GMO Zones Village of Telkwa. On March 11, 2013 in Telkwa BC this resolution was passed: "Whereas the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's) in agricultural activities is inconsistent with the Village of Telkwa's Official Community Plan and Integrated Community Sustainability Plan; and whereas the nature of cross pollination is not limited by municipal boundaries; be it resolved that the use of GMO's for agricultural purposes is unwelcome in the Village of Telkwa"
Municipalities Passing Non GMO Zones Local activism carries the day! Celebrate Huguette Allen http://youtu.be/gj9063uh4mc Celebrate Arzeena Hamir https://twitter.com/arzeena
Stopping GMO Alfalfa Saving Farms Watch out when scared farmers get MAD! North Battleford SK, Camrose AB, Calgary AB, Edmonton AB, Red Deer AB, Duncan BC, Kelowna BC, Nelson BC, Vernon BC, Victoria BC, Whitehorse Y More info: www.cban.ca/april9
GMO Alfalfa Facts Perennial crop Pollinated by insects GMO d to be Pesticide Tolerant Cross pollinates with weeds People eat sprouts Farmers use alfalfa for soil fertility and feed
Report: Challenges and approaches in mitigating risks associated with the adventitious presence of GM products in organic crop production in Canada Request copy from: RoundTable-TableRonde@agr.gc.ca
Report recommendations 1) Define a policy for sharing the costs of preventing and mitigating GMO contamination, clearly identifying all stakeholders' responsibilities, and why; 2) Create a fund to finance prevention and mitigation measures for GMO contamination and compensate organic producers for damages associated with contamination; 3) Implement compulsory best practices for the prevention of GMO contamination for both organic and GMO producers; educate and communicate with producers to ensure success; 4) Review minimum isolation distances for organic seed production to avoid crosspollination; 5) Require testing of all seeds used or sold for organic agriculture and labeling of GMO presence in seeds;
Report recommendations 6) Once a liability system exists, systematically test organic crops and define contamination thresholds to support the positioning of Canadian organic products as a non-gmo alternative; 7) Re-evaluate Canadian GMO labeling regulations in light of regulatory changes in other countries, consumer opinion, and recent scientific reports indicating potential health concerns of GMOs; 8) Establish GMO-free zones for crops at high risk of contamination, such as alfalfa and canola; 9) In the regulatory approval process for GMOs, modify the environmental safety assessment to include evaluation of the economic impact of cross-pollination with non-gmo crops and clearly state the responsibilities of GM gene developers and users. Require the development of rapid detection tests for each crop approved for confined or unconfined release; 10) Put in place a risk management group to prevent the loss of confidence in organic products.
Organic Value Chain Round Table Non GMO Committee recommendations: Buffers be required on GMO crops that border organic crops. Modernizing of the GMO approval process. Address compensation issues when contamination happens.
LLP Low Level Presence Allowing GMOs in Canada that are not tested or evaluated here. Purpose: to open foreign markets to Canadian exports Increases risk for Canadian consumers LLP issue is a distraction Real issue is lack of independent, fair and rigorous regulatory oversight of GMO approvals in Canada
GMO Labelling: Future? Carl Carter Director of Regulatory Affairs and Policy Development CHFA page1 49
CHFA s Activity CHFA Member Survey : 89% of members in favour of GMO labelling for Food 84% of members in favour of GMO labelling for NHPs Proposed Domestic Policy and Implementation Framework on the Management of Low-Level Presence of Genetically Modified Crops in Imports CHFA response highlighted substantial downside impact on the organic industry Collaboration with COG, COTA page1 50
CHFA s GMO Working Group Created by CHFA s Board of Directors Mandate: The mandate of the GMO Working Group is to consider the issue of GMO Labeling and provide specific advice and/or perspective to the CHFA. 14 members to date, ranging in geography, supply chain, and expertise: page1 51 1. Sharan Sidhu, NHP Licensing Solutions 2. Tania John, Nutrasource 3. Dag Falck, Nature s Path 4. Maureen Kirkpatrick, The Big Carrot 5. Kathleen Dills, Health First Network 6. Nathan Froese, Community Natural Foods 7. Massey Ghatavi, Pura Quinoa Inc 8. Wayne Parent, Nutrition House 9. Mick Matheusik, Wholly Noggin Foods 10. Gayle Thom, Horizon Distributors Canada 11. Valerie Fleck, WhiteWave Foods Company 12. Ian Walker, Left Coast Naturals 13. Mark Chilvers, Puresource 14. Carol Munro, Sequel Naturals
NPA s proposal for National Standard on GMO Labelling page1 52
Whole Foods: GMO Labelling To Be Mandatory By 2018 page1 On March 8, 2013, Whole Foods announced all products in the U.S. and Canada stores must be labeled if they contain genetically modified organisms by 2018 5 years to source non-gmo ingredients or to clearly label products with ingredients containing GMOs. We re setting this bold deadline -- putting this stake in the ground, because the prevalence of GMOs in the food supply, as well as the lack of mandatory labeling, makes it increasingly difficult for retailers to source and sell and offer non-gmo products, and increasingly difficult for the consumer to find those choices - Walter Robb, Whole Foods co-ceo Suggests that Whole Foods is pursuing food & NHPs but specific position remains ambiguous 53
Your thoughts? CHFA should pursue: a) Food only (as a start)? b)food AND NHPs? page1 54
Panel Discussion Maria Emmer-Aanes, Nature s Path, Dag Falck, Nature s Path & Non-GMO Project Courtney Pineau, Assistant Director, Non-GMO Project Arran Stephens, CEO and Co-Founder, Nature's Path page1 55