Well I’ve been working a lot at this time of year and I started this site up to blow off some steam but over the last 2 weeks I haven’t been able to write a post or review a few beers. I have now been put back to a sane work pace of less than 60 hours a week and I will be posting a bunch on Wednesday.
Industry and government must adjust to new findings, but policies should not be based on the latest Internet trend
By Cam Dahl
Published: January 25, 2016
What does “science based” mean? For both government policy and industry best practice, science based should mean that practices are based on rigorous scientific studies. Policies and regulations that veer off the science-based path put at risk the tools that make modern agriculture possible. So do production practices that do not rigorously follow scientifically developed guidelines.
But scientific review can sometimes be messy. Scientific consensus can shift and the “right” answer can change over time as new information becomes available. New research can disprove past points of view that were once thought to be valid.
What does this mean for policy-makers and the development of industry best management practices? Practically, this means that both industry and government must be willing to adjust practices and policies when new evidence comes to light.
New evidence
For example, frequent summerfallow was once the common practice on the North American prairies. This practice has adjusted as new research and agriculture tools became available. The willingness of farmers to adapt has benefited the environment and improved economic returns.
A medical survey and financial package promised for the victims still remain on paper
According to an unofficial survey, 613 children below the age of 14 continue to suffer from the illnesses caused by the aerial spraying of the pesticide in mango plantations of Muthalamada in Palakkad district of Kerala.— Photo: K.K. Mustafah
Sixteen experts from Canada, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and elsewhere reviewed scientific literature on glyphosate and cancer. In a report released this morning, the panel said there’s no evidence that glyphosate causes cancer. | File photo
A panel of epidemiologists and toxicologists says the World Health Organization is wrong about glyphosate.
