I think the best argument for genetic engineering and use of transgenic technology is the ability to develop specific applications and products in a quicker period of time. When you look at the end product and the rigour of the approval process--safety testing and toxicity testing--I'll tell you there is no organic product on the market right now, and this comes from my experience of 10 years, that undergoes the scrutiny of safety and toxicity that a GM technology or product does, not even close.
The products that are sold in natural health and dietary supplements and organics...you don't have to invest $100 million in research to introduce a new organic product to the market. And the organic market is fraught with a lot of unsubstantiated claims and products. The clinical research to back up a lot of the claims isn't there in a lot of the natural health products area, and that is a concern for me.
So I think what we have to look at is what is the end. The end game is healthier, safer, more environmentally friendly food. I think that's the end game. And what we have to do is look at things objectively and dispassionately. Emotional arguments are not going to succeed with anybody.
The benefit of organic is that it's the choice of a lifestyle. But if you ask me--and I had this case. I have an 87-year-old father. He was buying flax seed, and I was producing organic flax seed. He asked if he should buy organic flax oil or conventional. I told him I sold organic flax oil and conventional and I told him to buy the conventional. It's not worth the 50% more you're paying for organic flax and the benefits aren't there. The impact on the safety...there is no scientific evidence to say there is more contamination in conventional flax oil. We can't even detect that...the same levels of detection. I told him because he was on a fixed income as a senior to buy the conventional flax oil and that he wouldn't experience any difference in the health benefits. That was my advice to my own father, and I was selling the product.