NewsLine by Cole's Ag on May 3, 2024, 1:39pm

Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) Welcomes Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) Finalized Guidance for Gene Edited Plants, Opening Doors to Agricultural Innovation

(OTTAWA, ON – May 3, 2024) – GGC today applauds the release of CFIA’s long awaited final guidance on novel feed, marking the completion of a trio of regulatory updates that enable the introduction of gene-edited crops in Canada. These updates, initiated in 2018, are designed to foster agricultural innovation in plant breeding by addressing today’s farming challenges such as pest and disease management, yield improvements, drought resistance, and the nutritional quality of crops.

“This progress opens doors to innovation in Canadian agriculture, enabling the introduction of gene-edited crops that meet pressing agricultural challenges like drought, pests, and diseases, while enhancing nutritional quality,” said Andre Harpe, Chair of Grain Growers of Canada. “The updated guidance enables us to use the latest innovation in plant technology to produce nutritious and affordable food for Canadians and our international customers.”

The regulatory guidance aligns Canada’s regulations with our trading partners, ensuring Canadian farmers remain competitive globally. It is based on rigorous, science-driven assessments that guarantee the safety and efficacy of gene-edited crops.

“Completing this trio of regulations is a milestone that began five years ago, reflecting our joint commitment with government agencies to promote a regulatory environment that supports innovation while ensuring safety and transparency,” said William van Tassel, 1st Vice Chair of Grain Growers of Canada. “With these updated guidelines, our farmers can access advanced tools to produce crops with better resiliency and higher yields, while meeting the demands of the market today and the future.”

The clarity provided by these regulatory updates is expected to accelerate the development and adoption of new plant varieties, crucial for enhancing the competitiveness of Canadian agriculture.

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About Grain Growers of Canada (GGC):

As the national voice for Canada’s grain farmers, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) represents over 65,000 producers through our 14 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members are trade oriented, sustainable and innovative. As a farmer-driven association for the grains industry, GGC advocates for federal policy that supports the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada. Learn more at: www.GrainGrowers.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Hana Sabah
Communications Manager
Grain Growers of Canada
514-834-8841 | hana@graingrowers.ca

NewsLine by Cole's Ag on May 3, 2024, 10:36am

Canada Grains Council Embraces New CFIA Guidance for Gene Edited Plants

(OTTAWA, ON – MAY 3, 2024) – Today marks a significant milestone for Canada’s agricultural sector as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) unveils its latest livestock feed guidance, completing the trio of policy updates crucial for clarifying Canada’s requirements for gene-edited crops. This completes a process to enable innovation that began in 2018, when Canada’s seed and grain sectors called on Canadian regulators to clarify their policies for gene edited plants.

In response, Krista Thomas, Vice President Trade Policy, Seed Innovation, for the Canada Grains Council issued the following:

“This is a ground-breaking day for Canadian agriculture, as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirms its livestock feed guidance, marking the final piece in a series of vital policy updates that began in 2018. With this final piece in place, Health Canada and the CFIA have now answered longstanding calls from the seed and grain sectors for predictable, clear, and consistent policies for gene edited crops.

“We are pleased to see Canada maintaining a science-based and product-based regulatory approach. This means that gene-edited plants, which closely resemble traditionally-bred varieties, will be treated the same way—an approach many of our trading partners are also following. By aligning our policies with trading partners, we not only foster innovation but also ensure that Canadian farmers have access to the most advanced agricultural technologies available worldwide.

“This strategic move allows us to attract investments and bolster our agricultural exports, keeping Canadian agriculture at the forefront of global grain production.

“This news opens up incredible opportunities for innovation within the grain sector. We are particularly excited about crops that can better withstand environmental stresses such as drought and pests without compromising yield. This ability directly translates to stability in food supply and prices, which is crucial for both our economy and food security.

“In recent years, the grain sector has faced punishing drought conditions and we have too many examples of crop diseases that lack adequate control. Gene editing can help develop solutions faster and more efficiently than traditional plant breeding methods allow.”

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For more information, please contact:

Sandra Filion
Vice President, Communications & Stakeholder Relations
Canada Grains Council
613-277-0109 | sandra@canadagrainscouncil.ca

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