GM Trees
Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:05 am
GM Trees - The Current: Part 2:
http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2005/200501/20050112.html
GM Trees – Scientist
In September, a team of international scientists did something that would have made headlines just a few years ago. They've mapped out the very first tree genome. And in figuring out the genome of the Black Cottonwood, scientists claim they can improve upon the species. They say they can plant a bigger, faster growing forest, resistant to disease, AND one that can also clean the environment.
Malcolm Campbell is a biology professor at the University of Toronto who studies forest genetics and plant genomes. Last month he and nearly two dozen scientists from the U.S., Sweden and Canada gathered for a Genome Annotation Jamboree to collaborate on some of the implications of mapping this sequence. Professor Campbell was in Toronto.
Critic - Suzuki
Still, there are those who believe genetically modified forests should remain the stuff of pulp fiction and David Suzuki is one of them. He is an award-winning scientist, environmentalist, and broadcaster. You may know him as host of the CBC television program 'The Nature of Things'. We reached David Suzuki in Vancouver, where he's also professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia.
GM Tree Factboard
No matter what side of the debate you find yourself on, forestry workers would benefit from stronger, faster growing trees that are also disease resistant. Because when a GM trees falls in the forest, it makes the sound of money.
The Canadian forest industry is the largest industrial employer in the country. More one million people-- in 16-hundred towns across the country--- depend on trees for their livelihood. In 2003, we exported $6.8 billion dollars worth of lumber to the United States alone.
But beyond wood, pulp and paper, fruit growers in Canada would also swing joyously from GM branches. There are about 16,000 fruit growers in Canada, and in 2002, nearly 680,000 tonnes of fresh fruit were produced----worth about $517-million to the farmers alone.
Three provinces produce the majority of fruit in Canada---Ontario, B.C. and Quebec. And the fruit that outgrows all the others is the apple, the Canadian lunchbox staple. The apple's followed by blueberries, grapes, cranberries, strawberries and raspberries.
Listen to The Current: Part 2
(Due to streaming policies, some segments may be altered or not available)
http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2005/200501/20050112.html
GM Trees – Scientist
In September, a team of international scientists did something that would have made headlines just a few years ago. They've mapped out the very first tree genome. And in figuring out the genome of the Black Cottonwood, scientists claim they can improve upon the species. They say they can plant a bigger, faster growing forest, resistant to disease, AND one that can also clean the environment.
Malcolm Campbell is a biology professor at the University of Toronto who studies forest genetics and plant genomes. Last month he and nearly two dozen scientists from the U.S., Sweden and Canada gathered for a Genome Annotation Jamboree to collaborate on some of the implications of mapping this sequence. Professor Campbell was in Toronto.
Critic - Suzuki
Still, there are those who believe genetically modified forests should remain the stuff of pulp fiction and David Suzuki is one of them. He is an award-winning scientist, environmentalist, and broadcaster. You may know him as host of the CBC television program 'The Nature of Things'. We reached David Suzuki in Vancouver, where he's also professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia.
GM Tree Factboard
No matter what side of the debate you find yourself on, forestry workers would benefit from stronger, faster growing trees that are also disease resistant. Because when a GM trees falls in the forest, it makes the sound of money.
The Canadian forest industry is the largest industrial employer in the country. More one million people-- in 16-hundred towns across the country--- depend on trees for their livelihood. In 2003, we exported $6.8 billion dollars worth of lumber to the United States alone.
But beyond wood, pulp and paper, fruit growers in Canada would also swing joyously from GM branches. There are about 16,000 fruit growers in Canada, and in 2002, nearly 680,000 tonnes of fresh fruit were produced----worth about $517-million to the farmers alone.
Three provinces produce the majority of fruit in Canada---Ontario, B.C. and Quebec. And the fruit that outgrows all the others is the apple, the Canadian lunchbox staple. The apple's followed by blueberries, grapes, cranberries, strawberries and raspberries.
Listen to The Current: Part 2
(Due to streaming policies, some segments may be altered or not available)