Online activism impacting Biotechnology?

According to a study done by the Pew Research Centre in 2010, six in 10 (59%) consumers get news and information from a combination of online and offline sources on a typical day and use of TV and traditional newspapers are on a steady decline[1]. Internet usage is steadily growing, averaging a rate of 400+% per year since 2000[2]. In fact, 13% of Internet users in America are Twitter users, up from 8% the year before. These users are ‘on the go.’ Ninety five percent own a mobile phone, and half of these users access social media tools on their handheld device[3].

Why does this matter for agricultural science and science advocates? Anti-technology groups have changed their ‘modus operandi’ over the past few years. At one time, interest groups would lobby or demonstrate and, in some extreme cases, resort to vandalizing field trials. But now, a whole new generation of activism has evolved. Interest groups are rapidly adopting social media as a way to influence public opinion and to disparage modern plant biotechnology and associated practices. And they circulate their message faster and more efficiently than ever before.

From a post by Cami Ryan, Cami Ryan is a Professional Research Associate with the Departments of Plant Sciences and Bioresource Policy, Business and Economics at the U of S and is working as a social scientist on the Total Utilization of Flax Genomics (TUFGEN).

Click here for the complete article

Our question: Have you seen the influence of online advocacy in your work?

Biotechnology in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan is recognized as one of the world’s leading agbiotech research centres. Most of the activity is centred at Innovation Place and the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, representing one of Canada’s largest clusters of research organizations in ag biotech. About 30% of the Canadian agbiotech industry is located in Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan researchers created the world’s first genetically modified commercial canola variety and the first genetically engineered animal vaccine. Research and development is occurring in:

• genomics
• animal health products and animal vaccines
• food safety products
• new crop varieties and crop variety identification systems
• microbial bio-controls
• microbial bio-fertilizers and plant nutrient systems
• plant micropropagation
• biological water quality detection systems
• cosmetics and skin care products
• bio-pharmaceuticals and bio-industrial feedstocks

For more see: http://www.econet.sk.ca/issues/biotec/biotech_sk.html

Biotechnology News

Between 200 and 300 million dollars is going to be invested in Canadian biotechnology companies, with Saskatchewan likely to be a main focus. A Burrill Canada fund is being set up, and the company is looking for investment opportunities in this province.

Clink:

It is a Pleasure to be Back in Saskatchewan

The following is the prepared text of a speech by Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney to the Regina & District Chamber of Commerce in Saskatchewan (June 18, 2009).

“It is a pleasure to be back in Saskatchewan. This great province has been one of the fastest-growing parts of the country in recent years, benefiting from increasing diversification into biotechnology and alternative energy, among other industries.”

Click HERE to read the complete speach.

More on Saskatchewan BioTechnology

There is a misconception that life sciences in the prairies starts and ends with agricultural biotechnology. Darcy Pawlik, Vice-President of Saskatoon-based Ag-West Bio Inc., wants to be perfectly clear when he says that this couldn’t be further from the truth.

“The Synchrotron is Canada’s biggest expenditure over the last 20 years in all of science,” he says. And the synchrotron doesn’t rest in Vancouver, Montreal or Toronto. It resides at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) facility on the grounds of the University of Saskatchewan.

Although Saskatchewan does have a natural predisposition to ag-bio—almost 50 per cent of the arable land in Canada is located in the prairies—leaders in the region have worked diligently over the last 15-or-so years to create a robust and well-rounded life sciences community.

As a result of the hard work from government, industry and residents, what can now be found in Saskatchewan is a home for scientists specializing in life sciences research spanning from the expected ag-bio industry to health and nutrition, and an economy that is second to none in Canada.

For the complete article see: http://www.biobusinessmag.com/articles/april09coverstory/coverstory.html