Producers are eager to adopt DIY aerial spraying, but a slow, careful approach if warranted, says sprayer expert
A number of farmers across Western Canada are using unmanned drones to spray crop protection products, and they’re doing it undeterred by a lack of regulatory approval, say ag drone experts. Markus Weber, president of Alberta-based LandView Drones, sells drones for agricultural applications, including crop spraying. Up until a few years ago, farmers were primarily […] Read moreTag Archives pest management regulatory agency
Ag research potential praised, but danger lurks
Canada said to be developing innovative, investment-friendly climate, but gov’t remains under pressure from activists
WINNIPEG — Canada could be on the brink of becoming an agriculture research Mecca, or it could be on the verge of sliding into ag research paralysis. Both of those possibilities were discussed by Ottawa lobbyists at Keystone Agricultural Producers’ annual convention late last month. “We’re particularly excited about this,” said Andrea Faubert of Corteva […] Read more
Health Canada pushes back on regulatory critics
The department has been criticized for an unpredictable process, but it argues that it ‘makes evidence-based decisions’
Politicians, agriculture investors, ag tech companies, industry consultants and representatives of the crop science industry say Canada’s regulatory system has a bad reputation. They claim that politics and public opinion are influencing Health Canada decisions around pesticides and new technologies like gene-edited crops. Related stories on this issue: Death by consultation Canadian ag tech firms […] Read more
Health Canada pushes back
Politicians, investors, ag tech companies, industry consultants and representatives of the crop science industry say Canada’s regulatory system has a bad reputation. They claim politics and public opinion are influencing Health Canada decisions around pesticides and new technologies such as gene edited crops, and that the regulatory process has become unpredictable and unclear. Related stories […] Read more
Canadian ag tech firms avoid domestic market
A crop protection company from Ontario says almost all of its sales are in the United States due to Canadian regulations
Vive Crop Protection is a Canadian success story. In the last few years, the Ontario company has received numerous awards to recognize its success. In 2020, the Globe and Mail Report on Business called it one of Canada’s top growing companies. In 2021, Vive was named Company of the Year by Life Sciences Ontario. Related […] Read more
‘Death by consultation’
It’s obvious to Scott Day that Canada has a reputation problem. At a digital ag conference in Winnipeg last month, Day went to the microphone to ask a question, although it was really a statement. “(Ag tech) companies are getting the impression that Canada is a very difficult place for the regulatory registration process,” said […] Read more
Level playing field needed to harvest benefits for all
Public discussion can be noisy and rancorous but there are many things on which most people agree – the need for clean air and water, a healthy environment and the ability to get a reasonable return from a marketplace that offers a level playing field for all. Getting to that level playing field for international […] Read more
CropLife worries about Environment Canada
It didn’t get a lot of press, but last fall the federal government took a stand to support Canada’s agriculture industry. In December, the United Nations held a biodiversity conference in Montreal. The participants signed an agreement, called the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework, to protect nature and reverse biodiversity loss. Leading up to the final agreement, […] Read more
CropLife worries about Environment Canada ‘over-reach’
As an example, on June 20 the federal government announced that the use of cosmetic pesticides will no longer be permitted on federal lands. Federal environment minister Steven Guilbeault praised the decision.
Feds to change pesticide oversight
The federal government is adopting a new way to manage pesticides, which seems to give a larger role to Environment and Climate Change Canada. On June 20, the government announced the next steps toward a “sustainable approach to pesticides management.” In the past, Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency was responsible for pesticide regulation in […] Read more
