The controversy over genetically engineered crops has not stopped the development of transgenic varieties for Western Canada but it may slow their arrival.
“It’s possible that the breeding of new varieties using transgenics will continue with field trials,” said Wilf Keller, research director for the Research Council of Canada’s Plant Biotechnology Institute in Saskatoon.
“But I would think the final registration on these wouldn’t happen with pulses and cereals for the next little while.”
Caution has taken hold in Western Canada’s research community. There’s a desire to move the technology forward, but not if it means risking markets for Canadian crops.
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Agriculture Canada’s Winnipeg cereal research centre reflects that caution.
Director Jim Bole remains enthused about genetically modified crops as a way to keep prairie farmers competitive in the future but market acceptance also must be considered.
Agriculture Canada spends $15 million annually on wheat breeding, including $100,000 for breeding transgenic wheat varieties.
“We probably do have more caution, more reluctance, to use a lot of taxpayers’ dollars in developing genetically modified crops,” Bole said.
The Western Grains Research Foundation, which administers check-off dollars used in wheat and barley breeding research, shares that caution.
The foundation does not oppose research using transgenics, said executive director Lorence Peterson. At the same time, it recognizes that much of the market is not ready to embrace transgenic wheat and barley.
“We have concerns about acceptance of these products in the international marketplace and do not want to fund research that could directly jeopardize those markets.”
