Story Posted: February 10, 2011

Defeat of Bill C-474 Good News for Farmers

Winnipeg, Manitoba - The results of yesterday's final vote defeating Bill C-474 is good news for canola farmers who rely on the advancement of new varieties to keep them competitive in the global oilseed market. "The changes proposed in Bill C-474 would have only added ambiguity and uncertainty to our seed system with the end result being a loss of innovation and competitiveness for farmers," says Ed Schafer, President of the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA).

Bill C-474, an Act that proposed to alter the way crops derived from genetic modification are regulated, ended its lengthy debate in Parliament on Wednesday evening.

"Most of the canola we grow in Canada is from varieties that benefit from traits created with biotechnology," says Schafer. "With over 80 percent of Canada's canola products destined for export markets, we've always been mindful of meeting export market demands."

The current science-based variety approval system has served the canola industry and Canadian farmers well. Biotechnology has had real bottom line impact for canola farmers. For example, a recent study from the University of Saskatchewan shows that farmers benefit by up to $26 per acre from planting herbicide-tolerant (HT) canola compared to conventional canola.

"Biotechnology has also helped farmers improve their land stewardship practices," says Schafer. With HT canola, farmers have reduced their herbicide usage and shifted to conservation tillage practices, which are better for the environment and prevent soil erosion.

Looking forward, the world will be challenged to feed more people with fewer resources, while facing climate uncertainties. "Agriculture can only be part of that solution if we utilize the best science and technology tools available to us, biotechnology being one of them," says Schafer.

The Canadian Canola Growers Association represents more than 50,000 canola farmers on national and international issues that impact farm profitability.

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