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Tag Archives Plant reproduction

wheat with green stem
Opinion

Editorial: The farm organizations ‘that matter’

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The recent decision to join UPOV ’91, the international agreement on plant breeders’ rights, was part of Bill C-18, “The Agricultural Growth Act.” Back in the day, it would have been called something like “An Act Regarding the Application of Plant Breeders’ Rights in Canada.” The previous Bill C-18 would have been “An Act to
But just what does GMO free mean, exactly?
Did you know?

Genetically modified, engineered or just edited?

The result can be the same without the addition 
of a gene from elsewhere

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Just what is a genetically modified organism? Japanese scientists writing in a recent issue of the journal Trends in Plant Science say the answer is not so clear, and call for action to clarify the social issues associated with genetically engineered crops. “Modern genome-editing technology has allowed for far more efficient gene modification, potentially impacting
bees
Crops

Neonics are in the picture, but they’re not the whole picture

The varroa mite is still the top concern for beekeepers, in the eyes of one expert, 
but other factors can’t be ignored either

By
It’s a question many both inside and outside of agriculture are asking — why are so many honeybees dying? While some culprits have been fingered, experts say it’s not a problem that can be solved with a silver bullet. “It’s very tempting to come up with easy answers, and if anything is clear, it’s that
Gerry Ritz, Canadian Agriculture MInister
Crops, National news

Strong support as Agricultural Growth Act becomes law

The main dissenter is the National Farmers Union. KAP wants farmers to be consulted on the regulations

By
There was applause here when plant breeders, seed companies and farmers at the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale heard the Agricultural Growth Act with its stronger intellectual property rights was about to receive royal assent. Immediately following the bill becoming law last week, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz tabled a treaty in Parliament
KAP meeting
Crops, Local news

You can save seed, but can you ‘stock’ it?

As UPOV ’91 becomes closer to reality for Canadian farmers and seed breeders, many questions remain to be answered

By
Planned amendments to Canada’s Plant Breeders’ Rights Act are generating a lot of questions and few answers, as some farmers begin to fear they’ll be left to reap what the federal government sows. Omnibus Bill C-18 — known as the Agricultural Growth Act — will affect a total of nine pieces of legislation including the
beekeeper with hive
Did you know?

If you see beekeepers rubbing their heads…

Propolis, which bees use to seal hives, may have another use

By
Apparently it works on mice, so millions of men may be hoping it works on them too. Scientists writing in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry say the material that honeybees use to seal their hives may promote hair growth. In an ACS release, Ken Kobayashi and colleagues report that propolis,
wheat field
Crops, National news

AAFC proposing two-tier crop variety registration system

One category would require merit testing and the other would only require the registrant to demonstrate a variety was new, distinguishable, uniform and stable

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Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is proposing to reduce Canada’s crop variety registration system from three tiers to two by 2016. One of the tiers would still include merit testing as part of the process for registering new wheats for western Canadian farmers, which is seen by many as an important tool in assuring wheat
bee pollinating canola
Crops, National news, Oilseeds

Canola Council joins coalition for bee health road map

A diverse group of corporate entities join together 
with beekeepers as the Honey Bee Health Coalition

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The Canola Council of Canada has joined the Honey Bee Health Coalition, a North American coalition of more than 30 organizations, in the hopes of improving pollinator numbers. “We’re really dependent on pollinators to have seed stocks for this 20-million-acre industry, so obviously we want that relationship to continue,” said Gregory Sekulic, who represents the
hand running through a pile of grain
Crops, National news

Right to save seed will be absolutely clear, Ritz vows

The government has introduced amendments to its Agricultural Growth Act 
to make the language around seed saving clearer

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Legislation updating plant breeders’ rights will be amended to make it absolutely clear that farmers can save and replant seeds from crops they have grown, says Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. It was one of several amendments the government plans for the Agriculture Growth Act, which was forced through second reading in the Commons in June.
The Mediterranean fruit fly damages 300 types of cultivated and wild fruits, vegetables and nuts worldwide.  Photo: USDA
Did you know?

Population control — just let the males take over

Unlike sterilized males, GM versions are good 
performers but run out of females

By
Scientists at the University of East Anglia and Oxitec Ltd. in the U.K. say they have a new way to control a damaging crop pest — release males genetically engineered to father only male offspring. The scientists conducted greenhouse research with the Mediterranean fruit fly, which damages 300 types of cultivated and wild fruits, vegetables

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