RR Alfalfa Sparks Debate At CSTA

“All it takes is one plot.” – LES JACOBSON, MFSA European forage seed companies are starting to require official testing and GM-free certification from Canadian exporters because of the existence of Roundup Ready alfalfa in test plots. “We are aware of Roundup Ready alfalfa trials in Canada and (are) therefore not happy, since Europe has

Questions Raised About Monsanto Penalties

Four Ontario farmers found guilty of stealing Monsanto’s Roundup Ready soybean technology are unlikely to find sympathy from fellow farmers who abided by their contracts. But Monsanto’s decision to deny those farmers access to its seed technology for life is raising questions among industry observers concerned about concentration in the marketplace. In 2007, 65 per


SUNOPTA RELEASE

“Our pea fibre is a natural, allergen-free functional fibre with proven health benefits that fits well into the SunOpta fibre portfolio…” Best Cooking Pulses of Portage la Prairie will be supplying pea fibre to the U. S.-based SunOpta Ingredients Group, which is expanding its portfolio of functional fibres to include organic and conventional pea fibre.

Minister Says Canadian Canola Doesn’t Sprout

Efforts to dissuade China from blocking imports of Canadian canola over fears of blackleg haven’t gone well, and comments by Canada’s agriculture minister may not have helped. Gerry Ritz said Monday in Winnipeg he told Chinese officials they needn’t fear their farmers growing Canadian canola because the seed won’t grow. “I assured them that with


Low-Level Tolerances Needed For GM Crops

“Once an event has been approved it’s not a question when that event will show up, it’s a question of what day on the calendar it will show up.” – DENNIS STEPHENS Governments must agree on tolerances for small amounts of genet i -cally modified plants (GM) in commodity shipments and Canada’s should take the

Improving Wheat’s Profitability

Monsanto was back in the news last week with its announcement that it is re-entering the wheat-breeding business with the purchase of a Montana-based company that specializes in germplasm. The objective is to develop genetically modified wheats that have better drought tolerance, improved nitrogen efficiency and ultimately higher yields. Monsanto’s competitors, Syngenta AG, BASF and


Groups Oppose Biotech Wheat

Groups from Canada, the United States and Australia issued a June 1 statement rejecting genetically engineered wheat in response to a pitch by industry lobbyists for commercial development of biotech wheat. “We restate our definitive opposition to GE wheat and our commitment to stopping the commercialization of GE traits in our wheat crops,” said the

Campaign Against GM Alfalfa Intensifies

“The genie’s out of the bottle.” – JIM LINTOTT, MANITOBA FORAGE COUNCIL Acoalition of 80 farm and food organizations, including Manitoba forage producers, is calling for an immediate halt to field testing of genetically modified alfalfa in Canada. The groups want existing test plots of GM alfalfa uprooted and full-scale commercialization of the crop blocked.


EU New Market For Canada Canola

Europe’s acceptance of genetically modified canola seed represents an important new market for Canadian farmers, but purchases from the world’s largest exporter of canola seed are unlikely any time soon. The European Commission ruled March 10 to allow import of a type of canola, which German seed developer Bayer CropScience created by modifying the canola

Monsanto Starts India Corn Trials, Eyes Indonesia

Monsanto, the world’s biggest seed company, has started field trials for genetically modified corn in India, but it could take a few years for the seeds to be ready for a commercial launch, company executives said Feb. 17. The company is also optimistic of getting an approval for trials in Indonesia, after the gene-altered corn