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A U.S. seed technology company has struck a deal with a Canadian seed distribution firm to provide North American growers with new non-genetically modified canola traits.

Cibus Global has granted BrettYoung the right to distribute varieties in Western Canada and the northern plains of the United States that were developed using its patented Rapid Trait Development System (RTDS).

The first trait brought to market will be a new type of herbicide tolerant (HT) canola.

David Voss, vice-president of commercial development with Cibus, wouldn't divulge what herbicide the crop will tolerate but said it is a new mode of action not now used on canola.

The product was field-tested in the United States this year and lived up to performance expectations.

Cibus said the HT canola could be available to U.S. growers as early as 2011. The western Canadian product launch is expected in 2013.

The company's RTDS technology has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a mutagenesis technique not subject to genetically modified crop regulations in that country. But it will have to pass Canada's regulatory system, which classes RTDS and GM techniques, as well as other unique plants coming onto the market, as plants with novel traits.

Voss said the anticipated delay in the Canadian launch is because of Canada's two-year variety registration process.

Similar canola products have already made it through Canada's regulatory system. BASF's Clearfield canola and Dow AgroSciences' Nexera canola are both products of mutagenesis.

"We don't anticipate any issues," said Voss.

The Cibus/BrettYoung offering will differ from today's HT canola because unlike Bayer, BASF and Monsanto, Cibus has no vested interest in any particular herbicide.

"We don't care what the chemistry is," said Voss.

"We're very attracted particularly to off-patent chemistries because they have lower price points for the farmer."

Cibus is able to bring a new trait to market for about $7 million US in a span of about four years. By contrast, Monsanto spends $40 to $50 million bringing a GM trait to market.

"We are much faster and we are considerably lower cost. There again, that benefits the farmer," said Voss.

Calvin Sonntag, co-chief executive officer of BrettYoung, said RTDS is precise and delivers results much faster than genetic modification.

"It's a really elegant, novel way to introduce new genetic variability into a wide range of important crop species."

The deal with Cibus gives BrettYoung access to other canola traits in the development pipeline, such as disease resistance, as well as output traits like crops with new starch and oil profiles.

Benefits of RTDS

The Rapid Trait Development System uses directed mutagenesis and has advantages in creating novel plant traits:

* It does not involve transferring genes from one plant or animal to another.

* It does not run afoul of European restrictions on GM foods.

* Registration in the U.S. is quicker and less costly.

* Reduced registration costs could lower the price to the farmer.