The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has published guidelines on plant breeding marking the conclusion of a consultation process that began in 2021.
The move supports the introduction of gene-edited products in the Canadian market.
Last May, Health Canada released guidelines regarding the approval of plants with non-novel traits, prompting the organic sector to ask for more clarification on how gene-edited varieties would be kept separate from genetically-modified organisms (GMOs).
“As the agriculture sector faces the challenge of feeding a growing world population in the midst of climate change, innovation is an incomparable tool to increase our production safely and sustainably,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister. “While facilitating the development of new plant varieties from plant breeding innovations, in light of discussions with the government-industry committee, we will protect the integrity of organic certification.”
Bibeau said that gene-editing ushers in a new era for plant breeding techniques, replicating conventional methods more quickly, adding that the scientific consensus is that gene-edited crops are as safe for humans, animals, and the environment as those created through conventional breeding.
Plant breeding advancements are a critical part of the canola industry’s Keep it Coming strategy that guides the value chain and prepares for the opportunities and challenges ahead, including improved productivity to meet global market demand.
Canola Council of Canada president Jim Everson said new varieties will help make Canada’s canola crop more resilient in the face of pest pressures and climate change, support higher yields on each acre of farmland and improve sustainability through enhanced resource use efficiency.
“We support CFIA’s new guidance that provides a robust science-based approach to Canada’s domestic regulatory framework,” Everson said. “This will encourage new and additional research and development investment in Canada, while at the same time upholding safety and aligning with many of our trading partners in the approach to plant breeding regulation.”
Canadian Canola Growers Association Chair Roger Chevraux said canola farmers are excited for the gains that plant breeding innovations like gene-edited crops can bring to the farm.
“Advancements in plant breeding allow for greater precision than ever before, ensuring faster access to new varieties and more tools to increase yield, mitigate pest and disease pressures, and further sustainable agriculture,” Chevraux said.
The move has been welcomed by Canadian grain farmers, who believe innovative plant breeding techniques such as gene editing are essential to ensuring a sustainable future for agriculture.
Grain Growers of Canada Chair Andre Harpe said CFIA’s updated guidance on plant breeding innovation is a step in the right direction.
“It will help us keep pace with global competitors who have already embraced science-based policies to improve crop yields and quality,” Harpe said. “This is especially important as we face new challenges posed by climate change and other environmental pressures.”
The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) and Alberta Barley acknowledged this marks a critical milestone to a long consultation process.
AWC chair Greg Sears said the publication of CFIA’s new guidance will enable innovation that allows Alberta farmers to access better plant varieties that are resilient to pests and stress.
“Many of our global trading partners have already adopted similar science-based policies this will allow Alberta’s farmers to remain competitive on his world stage,” Sears said.
Not everyone is happy with the changes including the National Farmers Union (NFU) who are strongly opposed to the CFIA regulatory guidance.
NFU President Jenn Pfenning said the lack of mandatory notification means that some genetically modified foods and seeds could be released onto the market without the knowledge of farmers and food manufacturers.
“Allowing undisclosed GM seeds into Canadian agriculture will challenge and ultimately destroy the systems that farmers and many food companies have set up to deliver non-GM choices to consumers,” Pfenning said. “Essentially, these changes will give biotechnology companies free reign over our food system. This decision needs to be reversed, or over time, it will eliminate our ability to offer reliable non-GM food choices, including organic food.”
Organic food and farming prohibits all genetic engineering, including gene editing, as per Canadian Organic Standards, according to Garry Johnson, president of the farmer led organization SaskOrganics.
“This decision runs directly counter to the minister’s commitment to find a solution that ensures organic farmers can continue to farm organically,” Johnson said. “Not ensuring full disclosure of all GM seeds through a mandatory public registry, will make it challenging for organic farmers to meet the requirements of the Canadian Organic Standards.”
The CFIA updated guidance for determining whether a plant is subject to Part V of the Seeds Regulations can be found here.
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