|
AUS – CANADIAN FARMERS CHOOSE GM
Media Release - 04 February 2008 Source: The Producers Forum
Source: www.producersforum.net.au
Canadian Farmers Choose GM Canola Varieties
The overwhelming majority of Canadian farmers have again demonstrated the value they place on GM canola varieties.
In commenting on the latest figures from the Canola Council of Canada, Mr Wayne McKay of the Producers Forum, said Australian farmers should note that there has been another reduction of the area of conventional varieties sown on the Canadian prairies.
“They are down to 2% of plantings in 2007, from 5% in 2006.
“This shows that conventional varieties are proving inferior in all but the most specialized niches in Canadian farmers cropping programs.
“Farmers I met last year in Canada were focused on the techniques for better weed control and resistance management that the proven GM herbicide tolerant canola varieties provide.” Mr McKay said.
“As in Australia, the major farmer representative organizations in Canada are unanimous in their support for their members having the choice to access GM technology.” he said.
Mr McKay noted that the Canadian Canola Growers Association - with a membership of over 52,000 - represents 95% of Canada’s canola growers; and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canada’s peak agricultural industry body, has over 200,000 members.
”The views of other groups – such as the Canadian National Farmers Union and the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate, are in effect, peripheral,” Mr McKay said.
“It is very clear that Canadian canola growers have successfully adopted GM canola and after ten years it is an integral part of their production system.”
|
