Taking Action on Innovation

Agricultural Innovation Benefits all Canadians

OTTAWA, April 9, 2013 /CNW/ - Innovation is key to keeping Canada's agricultural sector strong and strong, science-based regulatory systems are key to ensuring that such innovations are safe for human health and the environment.

"Innovations derived through modern plant breeding help farmers, are good for the environment and they deliver tangible benefits to consumers by way of lower food costs," said Lorne Hepworth, president of CropLife Canada, the trade association representing manufactures, developers and distributors of plant biotechnology.

"Canada is well-known for its exceptional, science-based regulatory system and for ensuring that human health and environmental considerations are duly considered.  Canadian consumers enjoy one of the safest, most abundant, and most affordable food supplies in the world.  Agricultural innovation, particularly plant biotechnology, has played a strong role in that success," said Hepworth.

Biotech crops help farmers to control threats to productivity such as weeds, insects and disease.  These enhanced crops can also reduce or eliminate the need for farmers to plough the land to control weeds, which significantly enriches soil and reduces erosion.  Additional information about the benefits of modern plant breeding can be found by visiting www.croplife.ca.

CropLife Canada and its member companies are strong proponents of allowing consumers and farmers to choose between conventional, organic and GM crop production.  The industry also has a long history of ensuring that its products are properly managed throughout their entire lifecycle.  This includes developing best management practices to address concerns such as the ability of various farming operations to coexist.

"Growing food demand means that both organic and GM production sectors will continue to grow", said Hepworth.  "This means that compatibility between all production methods will continue to be an important issue.  Our industry remains ready to work on coexistence issues with all interested parties."

SOURCE: CropLife Canada

Nadine Sisk
Executive director, communications and member services
Phone: [phone] ext. 3224
[email protected]