The federal government proposes that the controversial kernel visual distinguishability component of the grain variety registration system be eliminated by 2010.
It also promises a “sustainable funding solution” for the Canadian Grain Commission.
However, the Conservative government is lukewarm to a proposal from the House of Commons agriculture committee that an independent Office of Grain Farmer Advocacy be created to investigate complaints from producers about grading decisions.
“It is unclear how a government-funded advocacy office would co-exist with existing general farm organizations that advocate on behalf of grain and other farmers,” the government said in a report tabled in Parliament April 16 by agriculture minister Chuck Strahl. “The government is considering how to meet the needs for adequate communication with farmers and effective consideration of farmer interests in disputes with other stakeholders, including the CGC.”
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The comments come in the official government response to an agriculture committee report on a review by consultant firm Compas Inc. of the need for reform at the grain commission.
The government is noncommittal about some of the more sweeping committee recommendations for reform, including a recommendation that the Canada Grain Act be revised to update the mandate of the commission to “clearly protect the interest of grain producers.”
The government said it will consider the committee suggestion as it plans how to change the mandate of the grain commission.
It offered the same noncommittal response to recommendations for a reform of the CGC governance structure to replace the present commissioner and assistant commissioner structure with a more traditional president and three vice-president structure.
Likewise, an all-party recommendation that the CGC receive additional funding was met only with a government promise that the government is considering ways to ensure adequate funding.
The government was more definitive in its response to a committee recommendation that KVD be “abandoned and be replaced by a system based on farmer’s declarations or affidavits supported by science-based mechanisms of quality control.”
Strahl’s response said the government agrees and it proposed a timetable to see KVD eliminated “in a measured way”.
It said the grain commission has been asked to prepare a report by Dec. 31, 2009, on the results of a pilot project for eliminating KVD in assessing minor classes of wheat.
That report also will contain a proposal on how to achieve “the complete removal of KVD by a target date of 2010,” said the report tabled in Parliament. “The government agrees with the standing committee that the elimination of KVD is a desirable outcome.”
KVD is a standard grading system that depends on visual differences between varieties. Plant breeders complain the system prohibits registration of varieties that are not visually distinct enough from the varieties designed for human food.
