Genetically altered Roundup Ready Polish canola varieties will be commercially available this year for the first time.
But because their acceptance in overseas markets is uncertain, they probably will be handled on an identity-preserved basis.
The Roundup Ready varieties come from Pioneer Hi-Bred/Proven Seeds, Zeneca and Agrevo. Zeneca’s Hysyn 101RR Polish synthetic and an Agrevo variety were recommended for registration last year and the three Pioneer Hi-Bred/Proven Seeds varieties were approved this year.
Zeneca and Pioneer Hi-Bred/Proven Seeds will have registered varieties this year, but Agrevo delayed registration because of the market issue. Zeneca appears to have the most certain plans for this year.
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“We are following an identity-preserved method through a crusher and grain handler here in Western Canada,” said Bill Gruel, product development agrologist with Zeneca.
“Both have the ability to totally segregate the crop and make sure all of it is sold and crushed domestically and there is no chance of it getting into an export market.”
Proven Seeds will have enough seed for a small commercial program this spring, and expects it will also use an identity-preservation program.
The complication has arisen because of attitudes toward genetically altered Polish canola in foreign markets.
In Canada and the United States, rapa (Polish) and napus (Argentine) genetically altered, herbicide-tolerant canola have been approved.
Canada’s largest overseas market, Japan, has approved genetically altered herbicide-tolerant Argentine canola, but has not yet completed its review of Polish altered varieties.
Europe has not yet approved any genetically altered canola.
Aaron Mitchell, Monsanto Canada’s manager of agricultural biotechnology, told the Western Canada canola and rapeseed recommending committee that his company believes Japan will grant approval this spring, but there are no guarantees.
“It came as a surprise when they separated rapa out to start with.”
Bruce Harrison, product manager for United Grain Grower’s Proven Seed, said his company will have enough seed for only a small acreage so an identity-preserved program will be simple to institute if needed.
“We would sign a contract (with the grower) on it … . In the fall when we got the commodity off, we’d identity preserve it to a North American crusher so it would stay in North America where the clearance has already been received,” Harrison said.
“If we have to (identity preserve) it, we will if we feel it could possibly hurt the industry by letting it out there.”
Because the European Union did not approve the importing of genetically altered canola as expected, Canadian producers were denied that market. Instead, the EU turned to Australia for supply.
The possibility that new genetically altered Polish varieties will further complicate the overseas market issue was discussed at the canola recommending committee meeting in February.
There has been talk about a moratorium on unrestricted registration of genetically altered Polish varieties until the marketing issues are sorted out.
But the recommending committee decided its regulations, which focus on agronomic questions rather than market issues, wouldn’t allow it to impose a moratorium even if it wanted.
