Government funds video to help farmers combat anti-GMO movem

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Government funds video to help farmers combat anti-GMO movement

[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3410802 ]

By Bonnie Allen, CBC News Posted: Jan 20, 2016 5:00 AM CT| Last Updated: Jan 20, 2016 6:10 AM CT

Video part of push to get farmers and scientists to stand up for genetically-modified crops

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QUOTE: 'The video recognizes that consumers have concerns, and then dismisses them. And that's a mistake.' - Lucy Sharratt, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network

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A government-funded documentary is issuing a call to action to farmers to dispel myths among city folk about the dangers of foods containing genetically-modified organisms.

The 30-minute film titled License to Farm, [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJnAV_quG6Y ] released online on Jan. 15, is being heralded as a weapon to combat the anti-GMO movement, while also being criticized as insulting propaganda.

SaskCanola, an industry group that represents the province's 26,000 canola growers, invested $150,000 — three-quarters of the cost — to produce the documentary.

It also solicited another $50,000 from the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan through their agriculture funding framework, Growing Forward2.

On its website, SaskCanola says the growing urban population is becoming further removed from the farm, and thus more ignorant about farming practices, but it says that urban population wields more power through social media.

"Their misunderstandings and food fears are having an impact on governments and regulations," the industry group warns.

This video release comes at at time when many European countries have banned farmers from growing GM crops and several American states push for mandatory labelling of GM-foods in grocery stores.

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