Economic sustainability often gets lost in the federal push toward environmental sustainability in agriculture, says Stuart Smyth of the University of Saskatchewan.
Tag Archives Stuart Smyth
Economics called important part of sustainability
Producers are told they must mobilize better to get the message about their sustainability successes out to policy makers
Loss of glyphosate remains concern for farmers
Looming concerns such as talk of a possible glyphosate ban and tight time lines for national carbon emission goals have convinced Stuart Smyth that more must be done to fight agriculture’s bad rap.
Wheat breeding faces ‘seismic shift’
The future of variety development is uncertain if Agriculture Canada changes focus
Glacier FarmMedia – The future of wheat breeding in Canada is on uncertain ground. Agriculture Canada may be moving away from field-ready wheat development and toward upstream research, attendees heard during Edmonton’s Crossroads Crop Conference late last month. The event featured a round table of four prominent wheat breeding figures, with an eye to what […] 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
Innovation adoption lags in farming
Every innovative product of technology that is commercialized eventually reaches what is known as “full adoption.” This is the point at which the peak percentage of society has adopted an innovation. Some innovations reach the point of full adoption more rapidly than others or have higher full adoption rates. The adoption rate of seatbelts in […] 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
Pulse sector goes slow on gene editing
WINNIPEG — Canadian pulse growers may have to wait before they can plant gene-edited peas, lentils and chickpeas. Gene editing is a permitted technology in Canada and in India, a critical export market for pulse crops. However, researchers and pulse industry leaders are hesitant to release gene-edited varieties because they’re worried about market acceptance. For […] Read more
Opposition to gene edited crops ‘getting weaker’
Researcher says public is likely to accept gene editing technology because of its beneficial applications for public health
WINNIPEG — The amount of money and human resources directed at gene edited crops is staggering, says Kevin Folta, a University of Florida plant scientist. China, India and other nations are dumping billions into the technology in efforts to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability. “Colleagues of mine who are over there (China), their labs are […] Read more
EU loosens rules for new genomic techniques
A recent decision by the European Parliament could open opportunities for crop development and international trade
SASKATOON — A European Parliament decision earlier this month to adopt new rules for what it calls new genomic techniques is good news for agriculture and international trade, say industry and academic experts. “Science has been under a very dark cloud for a long time in Europe, and so now I think we’re seeing those […] Read more
Producer sets out to counter livestock myths
Survey will gather data from 1991-94 and 2016-19 about all aspects of forage production from seeding to the final crop
CALGARY — A researcher is offering $200 to each Saskatchewan cattle forage producer who completes an online survey he expects will help counter what he called false greenhouse gas narratives targeting the beef industry. Judson Christopherson says he hopes to determine if the amount of carbon that’s being sequestered in soil by forage crops in […] Read more
