Microbial aquaculture, Bacta-Pur® cultures, microbial ecology

WHAT IS MICROBIAL AQUACULTURE?

Microbial aquaculture is the culture of naturally occurring and beneficial microorganisms such as the Bacta-Pur® communities. Aquaculturists provide water, food and specific physico-chemical conditions to grow aquatic organisms even single celled microscopic algae; we do the same thing for other microorganisms, such as bacteria. Any life form provided with an environment meeting their growth and reproductive requirements will flourish. Bacta-Pur® cultures are not altered, genetically modified (GMOs) nor deliberately mutated. They simply grow as a community that includes various populations of beneficial microorganisms capable of biodegrading a wide range of pollutants. Bacta-Pur® production is microbial aquaculture.

The microbial aquaculture to grow the Bacta-Pur® cultures is not biotechnology. Many countries and international organizations have defined biotechnology as relating to genetic engineering or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and or altering natural life forms:

UNEP Convention of Biodiversity, signed and ratified by Canada in 1992.
Cathagena Protocol on Biosafety (http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/bs/bswg-06/information/bswg-06-inf-08-en.pdf) was agreed to by over 190 countries and signed by Canada in 2001.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (http://www.oecd.org/document/42/0,3343,en_2649_34537_1933994_1_1_1_1,00.html)

Historically, in the 80's, biotechnology was common language for any new approach with any life forms; commercially growing communities of naturally occurring microorganisms was part of microbial ecology, which may have been considered a new approach. However, by the end of the 90's, the definition became clear that only genetically altered or engineered organisms, which obviously does not apply to Bacta- Pur® cultures, were part of the biotechnology industry.

Beneficial microbes have been used for millennia to make such common products as bread, cheese, yogurt, kefir, wine, beer, soy sauce etc. The development of the microscope in the 17th century by Antony Van Leeuwenhoek literally opened eyes to the microscopic world and facilitated culture of microorganisms. The 20th century saw the development of the microbial ecology (relationship between bacterial populations), which taught us the links between bacterial populations and the importance of maintaining the biodiversity associated with a durable development. It becomes natural to culture those beneficial microorganisms with the total respect they deserve. Welcome to the era of microbial aquaculture and applied microbial ecology with Bacta-Pur®!

Canadian Subterfuge??

Today the world largely understands that biotechnology means genetic engineering or altering natural organisms. There is great resistance around the world to man creating new species, particularly when it concerns our food and releasing new species into the environment. Canada, however, is trying to overcome the public's concern about the unknown threats of these creations by calling all use of life “biotechnology”. Canada defines biotechnology as

“the application of science and engineering in the direct or indirect use of living organisms or parts or products of living organisms in their natural or modified forms” and a biotechnology product is “a substance that is produced by means of biotechnology”.

There is science and engineering in all aspects of our lives; so this definition has no limits; it covers everything. A word that covers everything means nothing. Canada's definition is so imprecise that can cover whomever the bureaucrats want to support or impede. Thus, according to Canada even plants in your garden, your pets, your children (science is used to keep all healthy and growing) and “Frankenstein” type organisms are all biotechnology or products of biotechnology. Is Canada doing this to camouflage genetic engineering from its citizens? Is the Canadian government a pawn of the genetic engineering companies? What do you think?