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National Farmers Union-Ontario plan to lead province-wide GM alfalfa protest

NFU-Ontario to rally farm members to stop the release of GM alfalfa

By , Farms.com

Some farmers who belong to one of the three general farm organizations in the province, National Farmers Union – Ontario (NFU) are rallying its farm membership base, to try and stop the release of genetically modified (GM) alfalfa. 

The farm group has planned 13 protests across the province at different Member of Provincial Parliament (MP) offices and another 12 that are scheduled to take place in other parts of Canada on Tuesday, April 9th from 12noon to 1pm.

NFO-Ontario is calling it a “day of action” calling on farmers and concerned consumers to visit or contact their local MP constituency offices or to send letters to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Gerry Ritz.

Forage Genetics International has applied Monsanto’s genetically modified Roundup Ready technology to alfalfa. While Canadian regulatory authorities approved GM alfalfa for health and environmental release in 2005, there is one more step that allows for commercial release in Canada - variety registration from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The final step could be completed as early as this spring.


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Sweetener Effects on Gut Health - Dr. Kwangwook Kim

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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.