Statement: CropLife Canada comments on the future of agriculture in Quebec
Preparing for the Release of Report from La Commission sur l'avenir de
l'agriculture et de l'agroalimentaire québécois (CAAAQ)
As Quebec prepares to receive comments and recommendations from the Commission sur l'avenir de l'agriculture et de l'agroalimentaire québécois (CAAAQ), CropLife Canada would like to offer the perspective of the plant science industry on the role our industry plays in providing the tools for innovation to Quebec farmers.
The agriculture and agri-food sector in Quebec plays an essential role in Quebec's economy and is a significant area of expertise. Through innovation, agriculture has the potential to intersect with many other sectors of the economy to provide valuable products to farmers and consumers. Quebec producers understand the need to be competitive and have already embraced innovations offered by the plant science industry, including genetically modified (GM) crops. There is strong interest from Quebec farmers in other innovations including reduced risk pesticides, improving nutritional content of oilseed crops and crops developed for bio-fuels.
The future holds great promise and there are many opportunities to build upon Quebec's current success. Quebec's research and industrial infrastructure in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and bio-fuels are excellent examples of where there is existing expertise that will lend itself to the development of future innovations.
CropLife Canada was pleased to participate in the CAAAQ review and consultation on the future of agriculture. CropLife Canada looks forward to examining the upcoming report to be released from CAAAQ. The statement below highlights CropLife Canada's perspective on the role of plant science in agriculture and agri-food in Quebec.
Expanding role of plant science in Quebec, Canada and around the world
CropLife Canada members provide growers with food and feed crop varieties as well as crop protection products that are increasing yields, using less water, are more disease and drought resistant and deliver health benefits for food and animals. CropLife Canada members play an important role in enhancing the value of Canadian production by introducing innovations to agriculture. From traditional plant breeding to more recent advanced genetics the aim is the same: to provide added value and improvements to the crops we grow through increased yields, pest and disease resistance, improved nutrition and in the future, the ability to grow industrial products such as plastics, pharmaceuticals, fuels and other materials from a renewable source. We know that plant science technology delivers real benefits. With more than 10 years of commercial cultivation and some 249 million acres of GM crops planted in 22 countries, farmers clearly have confidence in biotech crops.
World-class regulations that protect and nurture
CropLife Canada and its members consider safety our first priority. Our products are among the most heavily scrutinized and strictly regulated in the world. Food safety standards used by Health Canada are based on global science and take into account new, peer reviewed science in everyday decision-making. Both pesticides and GM crops undergo exhaustive safety assessments before being approved for use. GM crops are the most extensively tested food crops available today, and their safety has been endorsed by scientific and regulatory agencies around the world - including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Royal Society of London. Even a report from the European Commission, concluded that "the use of more precise technology and the greater regulatory scrutiny [over biotech foods] probably make them even safer than conventional plants and foods".
Plant Science: Solutions for the world's health, environment and energy challenges Plant science provides solutions for some of the most daunting challenges facing our society in agriculture, nutrition, health care, energy, and the environment. Whether you're a consumer or a farmer, plant biotechnology has enormous benefits. For farmers, plant biotechnology means more choices for disease and pest control and increased yields. Biotechnology has provided numerous benefits for the environment, including the introduction of no-till farming facilitated by herbicide tolerant crop varieties. The environmental benefits of insect resistant corn are well documented. Biotech crop-related carbon dioxide emission savings estimated in 2005 were equivalent to the removal from the roads of nearly 4.01 million cars for a year. The new generation of GM crops are bringing health benefits, including enhanced nutrition, trans fat replacements and more.
Support of all production systems ensures choice for farmers and consumers alike.
CropLife Canada supports grower choice in production systems, including conventional, biotechnology-based and organic to meet market opportunities and consumer demand for choice. CropLife Canada and our member companies support federal and provincial government policies that enable co-existence of production systems (conventional, biotechnology-based and organic) as well as both niche and mass market commodities, which provide Quebec farmers the opportunity to choose their preferred production method while meeting consumers' interest in a variety of foods.
Optimism about the future of agriculture - The future holds promise, but only if support for the technology continues
New technologies are revolutionizing the agriculture industry and are transforming global agriculture. The possibilities are almost limitless as technologies are designed to improve efficiency in many areas of agriculture including crop production, food processing, food safety and the environmental sustainability of food production, storage and distribution. These technologies will also take agriculture beyond food and feed production, with applications in health, nutrition, medicine, energy, industrial materials and the environment. Any new regulatory requirements - and the cost of complying with them - could have significant, detrimental impacts on their ability to stay in business. That's why it's essential that no unnecessary additions to their burden be imposed.
Quebec's strong foundation in Agriculture - past, present. future?
We recognized that the future of agriculture in Quebec and Canada requires partnership with others in the agri-food chain that collectively will advance innovation in this important economic sector. A competitive agriculture industry is essential in Quebec and in fact across Canada. CropLife Canada welcomes the opportunity to address the Commission sur l'avenir de l'agriculture et de l'agroalimentaire québécois (CAAAQ) upcoming report. CropLife Canada will be issuing an in-depth statement after the release of the CAAAQ report on February 12, 2008.
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CropLife Canada is the trade association representing the developers, manufacturers and distributors of plant science innovations - pest control products and plant biotechnology - for use in agriculture, urban and public health settings. CropLife Canada's mission is to support innovative and sustainable agriculture in Canada, in cooperation with others, by building trust and appreciation for plant science innovations.
For further information, please contact:
Kristina Fixter, Director, Communications & Member Services
CropLife Canada
E: fixterk@croplife.ca
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