GMO
Roundup Ready alfalfa stirs debate
Members of the Canadian Seed Trade Association’s forage and turf committee recently wrestled over the politically charged issue of commercializing Roundup Ready alfalfa.
The debate stemmed from a resolution that suggested the Canadian seed industry should lobby for a delay in the commercialization of genetically modified alfalfa until exporters were assured that overseas markets wouldn’t be affected.
Alfalfa seed exporter Kurt Shmon of Winnipeg proposed the resolution, which was eventually defeated.
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Shmon said commercialization of GM alfalfa jeopardizes foreign
markets for Canadian alfalfa seed because it would result in cross-pollination with non-GM alfalfa.
That would devastate Canadian alfalfa seed producers and companies that export alfalfa seed to Europe and other GM sensitive markets, he said.
CSTA members at last month’s annual meeting said much of the concern stems from the fact that Europe and other trading partners have zero-tolerance policies that will not accept any level of unauthorized GM material in shipments of seed, cereal grains, oilseeds and pulse crops.
CSTA members stated repeatedly during the debate that Europe and other nations must be prepared to adopt new and reasonable tolerance levels for low-level contamination.
Until that happens, trade disruptions will continue to occur.
New Executive
CSTA president plans trade focus
Wayne Unger of Winnipeg is the new president of the Canadian Seed Trade Association.
Unger, vice-president of forage and turf sales for Brett Young Seeds, was elected at the CSTA’s annual meeting held last month in Kelowna, B.C.
Unger said he wants to focus on trade issues during his presidency.
Other newly elected executives include Stephen Denys of Pride Seeds in Chatham, Ont., who will serve as the associaton’s second vice-president.
New directors include BASF employee Jeff Bertholet of Saskatoon, Kevin McCallum of DL Seeds in Morden, Man., and Kurt Shmon of Imperial Seeds in Winnipeg.
Certified Seeds
Seed trade endorses tax incentive
Support is growing for a national tax incentive that encourages the use of certified seed, say officials from the Canadian Seed Trade Association.
CSTA vice-president Patty Townsend said at the association’s recent annual meeting in Kelowna, B.C., that the group is lobbying Canadian farm groups for support.
Most recently, the Alberta Soft Wheat Producers Commission announced its support for the idea and sent a letter to federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz encouraging implementation of a tax incentive program.
The CSTA is also working with Grain Farmers of Ontario, which represents 28,000 corn, soybean and wheat growers.
“The idea is to get as much industry support as we can so that we can demonstrate that there’s support for this idea from more than just the seed industry,” Townsend said.
Under to the CSTA proposal, farmers who buy certified seed would be eligible for a tax writeoff. For each dollar spent on certified seed, farmers would be eligible to claim $1.55 worth of expenses on their income tax returns.
Townsend said the CSTA has contacted Ritz, but the minister has not supported the idea.
