As 2024 drew to a close, I reflected on the year and the conversations that dominated the grains sector in Canada and around the world. The highlights? Innovation, sustainability and the future of our global food systems. From climate-related challenges to geopolitical shifts, the need for forward-thinking approaches to agriculture and technology has never been […] Read more
Tag Archives gene editing
Canola takes the slow road to 52 bushels per acre
WINNIPEG — Barring a perfect growing season, Canada’s canola industry will not achieve average yields of 52 bushels per acre in 2025. Growers could have reached 52 bu. per acre by 2025, but tight crop rotations, disease pressure and regulatory issues put a lid on canola gains over the last decade, say a group of […] Read more
Organics continue battle with gene editing
Glacier FarmMedia – The organic sector has a bone to pick with Canadian regulators on their treatment of gene-edited crops. From the perspective of Lucy Sharratt, a speaker at the Organic Connections Conference in Saskatoon in early November, the government is dancing to the biotechnology industry’s tune as it makes policy. “It’s obvious that companies […] Read more
Research aims for self-eradicating wild pigs
Glacier FarmMedia – A little help from gene editing could force invasive wild pigs to breed themselves out of existence, says a researcher from the University of Guelph. “I do believe this is a potential solution,” said Ray Lu, associate professor in the university’s molecular and cellular biology department. Western Canada’s wild pig problem has […] Read more
New genomic tools should produce faster seed solutions
Gene editing could help plant breeders find replacements as older genetic modification technologies develop resistance
Glacier FarmMedia – New genomic discovery methods will help farmers deal with older genetically modified crop traits that are no longer working as well as they used to. For example, corn rootworm is developing resistance to the Bt traits that have for years controlled the significant corn pest in North America. New genomic tools like […] Read more
Cost of access to plant gene banks may increase
Proposed changes to international plant gene sharing treaty could could bring additional costs to researchers, farmers
Glacier FarmMedia – Plant breeders around the globe can freely access plant gene banks for development of new crop varieties under the Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Proposed changes at the international level could make access — and future crop research — more costly. Who would pay that cost is not […] Read more
Genetic modification, global trade and illegal seed concern seed growers
Global trade and seed technology were major topics at the World Seed Congress
Western Canadian crops that missed out on rapid improvement during the first wave of genetic modification could see advantages as gene editing spreads. Canada recently announced rules that allow gene-edited crops without the regulatory burden faced by genetically modified crops. Other stories in the New Seed Variety Guide 2025: Individual genes already present in the […] Read more
Scientists begin research on gene-edited pigs
Biotech experts say the public is likely willing to eat meat from gene-edited livestock if provided with the proper context
Glacier FarmMedia – Pigs with genes manipulated for disease resistance are in the works. Gene-edited pigs resistant to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) could be a commercial reality as soon as 2026 in the United States, but one expert says it’s unclear how Canada’s regulatory system will respond. “Based on the science that they’ve […] Read more
Canada strives to attract gene-editing expertise
Seed development companies want to see more ability to collect royalties than what is currently available in some crops
Glacier FarmMedia – Canada has difficulty attracting companies to develop crop varieties due to the amount of farm-saved seed used by growers. As countries try to establish themselves as suitable places for development of gene-edited crops, there are questions about Canada’s ability to be a player. Gene editing can help with production challenges with many […] Read more
Gene editing race, illegal seed use in crosshairs
Glacier FarmMedia – ROTTERDAM — Many major crop-producing regions, Canada among them, now have a pathway to market gene-edited crops and that could lead to new products that avoid the former arduous, costly and time-consuming approval process that faced genetically modified crops. The World Seed Congress brings together stakeholders in the global seed industry. The critical difference is […] Read more
