The Ucluelet Local Food Society and the Tofino Community Food Initiative invite inquiring minds to a lecture on genetically engineered food this Thursday, Jan. 11 at the Ucluelet Community Centre and Friday, Jan. 12 at Darwin’s Cafe in the Tofino Botanical Gardens. Both talks start at 7 p.m. and will include light refreshments, door prizes, and enlightened discussion.
Guest speaker Dr. Thierry Vrain understands genetic engineering more than most. As a molecular biologist working for Agriculture Canada, it was his job to reassure the public that genetically engineered (GE) crops were safe to eat.
But, as any good scientist, Thierry started paying attention to the published studies emerging from Europe – some from prestigious labs published in leading scientific journals, which questioned the safety and health consequences of GE foods.
Then Thierry had an awakening. He realized everyone had been keeping the debate focused on genetically engineered crops when in fact we should all be looking at the other side of the equation – that is – the herbicide for which the crops have been engineered to resist – that being – glyphosate, sold under the trade name as ‘Roundup’.
Crops are literally bathed in glyphosate and we are eating a tremendous amount of this herbicide – even in foods, like cereal grains – that have not been genetically engineered.
Want to learn what this is doing to our health? Come out for the lectures this week, and join in on the discussion.