CFIA investigating mysterious shipments of seeds landing in mailboxes

Discussion in 'Plants: In the News' started by Junglekeeper, Jul 29, 2020.

  1. Junglekeeper

    Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years

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    Last edited: Jul 30, 2020
  2. Arlette

    Arlette Active Member

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    Excellent initiative but the important thing would be that people followed what was requested.
    In each country there are black lists of plants considered "invasive aliens" with detailed defense protocols about what it is forbidden to introduce and cultivate in each country. Rules and laws that just about everyone
    But these invasive alien species continue to thrive and increase.
    And this is what researchers call "invasion debt", that is, the phenomenon of the journey between the introduction of the species into a new territory and the spread of the organism, which determines the most relevant impacts. Another important factor is that the general public has one
    poor awareness of the problem and sometimes even goes so far as to hamper the actions of
    management of some invasive alien species. But wrong human behaviors are the
    determining and triggering factor of this phenomenon that continues to grow.
    There is an "ignorance" of the problem or an underestimation of it due also to the observation of the effects of the cultivation of these plants in the private sector where they do not seem to be invasive thanks to the elimination of the faded flowers which prevents the seeds from being dispersed without reflecting on the fact that, on the other hand, in nature the seeds also travel at enormous distances transported by the wind, by birds, by the waters, by careless transport of twigs ......... (I myself realized this recently by cultivating Buddleja but also many other plants that I didn't know had the same invasiveness characteristics and that in Italy are about 20% of the total).
    The other issue, which is not addressed to me in many Regulations and prohibitions, which however remain unfulfilled, is the purchase on the Net of seeds and plants and their transport everywhere by post or courier.
    Not to mention that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's exhortation to communicate the receipt of anonymous seeds could suggest a real impending danger.
    It would not surprise me much in these times that an insane researcher isolated or a laboratory built on the push of some delirium of power could think of manipulating seeds and giving way to bacteriological wars or bioterrorism as it is, rightly or wrongly, ventilated in the case of Covid 19.
     
  3. Arlette

    Arlette Active Member

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    Various hypotheses have begun to circulate even outside the more than 50 States concerned with the problem of sending these shipments of seeds of an unidentified nature. To make the fact even more inexplicable is that on the package there were false indications on the content. Some were supposed to have jewelry inside, others were toys. The sender is unknown, but from the writing on the wrappers they seem to come from China.
    Environmental hazard - The seeds could belong to invasive plant species, which would risk compromising the environment. "Invasive species would wreak havoc in the habitat, destroy native plants and insects and severely damage crops." (such as, for example, the seeds of Ailanthus altissima an invasive exotic species capable of colonizing entire natural areas threatening the biodiversity that is currently spreading spontaneously in urban and suburban areas. It is difficult to control and causes damage to structures, as well as supplant the original vegetation).
    Bioterrorism - seeds could introduce diseases still unknown in local plants, or damage the livestock. "There is not yet enough information to know if it is a joke or an act of agricultural bio-terrorism."
    Fraud against online shoppers. The hypothesis is also stated that it is more simply a scam not to the detriment of those who received the seeds but of those who buy online. The technique is called brushing scam and consists in randomly sending low value parcels. Target? Hire fake profiles that release positive reviews about the shipment, in order to improve the online reputation of the site, which took care of the shipment. In practice it would be a strategy that is often adopted by third-party sellers on e-commerce platforms to try to increase their sales through positive reviews.
     
  4. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    I haven't heard of any in the UK yet, bit out of touch since retirement!!
    But if anybody in the UK receives any of these packages, then the Environment Agency should be contacted and if the package is suspicious then obviously the local Police. The Country Watch Police Officers I am certain would also like to be made aware. They can place a bulletin on the Neighbourhood Watch letters and contact the coordinators. The message will soon get around.
     
  5. Junglekeeper

    Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years

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  6. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    Incredibly difficult to investigate, so the posting by Junglekeeper should be taken very seriously and the link read.
     
  7. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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