Genetically Modified Canola Plantings Reach 90 Percent in Canada

Farmer Fred Meister Sees Significant Environmental Benefits on His Farm

St. Louis, MO -- Canadian farmers aboriginal buried genetically adapted (GM) herbicide-tolerant canola crops in the mid-1990s. Today, about 90 percent of Canadian canola farmers are burying 90 percent of the canola hectares civic to GM canola.

We took some of the aboriginal affairs that were out there We now abound 100 percent herbicide-tolerant crops that are GM crops. The allowances of application GM crops, for me, is the herbicide tolerance You use beneath herbicide, as far as that goes. Also, the agronomics of the ground. Without them, you accept to afflict the clay and that can advance to abrasion and wind and baptize erosion So, environmentally, we feel that it is a big help. We abound it mainly for aliment use oil. The meal that's larboard over afterwards the oil's extracted is acclimated for a amount of uses - but mostly for abominable feeds In a new online video appear today, Canadian agriculturalist Fred Meister discusses his acquaintance growing genetically adapted canola crops, which he alone has adopted on 100 percent of his canola hectares. "We took some of the aboriginal affairs that were out there," says Meister, a second-generation ancestors agriculturalist who aswell grows acreage peas, aureate and barley. "We now abound 100 percent herbicide-tolerant crops that are GM crops."

In canola, as in a lot of crops, there are some weeds that are difficult for farmers to ascendancy already the crop starts growing because herbicides can abuse the crop as able-bodied as the weeds. Genetically adapted herbicide-tolerant canola plants accept been adapted to abide specific herbicides, authoritative edger ascendancy easier and better.

"The allowances of application GM crops, for me, is the herbicide tolerance," continues Meister. "You use beneath herbicide, as far as that goes. Also, the agronomics of the ground."

Growers use agronomics to ascendancy weeds and adapt the clay for planting. Excessive agronomics can abnormally appulse the clay and access clay erosion. "Without them, you accept to afflict the clay and that can advance to abrasion and wind and baptize erosion," says Meister about herbicide-tolerant canola. "So, environmentally, we feel that it is a big help."

Canola is an oil-seed crop that has been developed in North America for added than 30 years, primarily for aliment use. The pods on canola plants accommodate seeds that are apprenticed to abstract oil, which is lower in saturated fat than added vegetable oils and is a bigger antecedent of omega-3 blubbery acids and vitamin E.

"We abound it mainly for aliment use oil. The meal that's larboard over afterwards the oil's extracted is acclimated for a amount of uses - but mostly for abominable feeds," explains Meister. While the plants are adapted to abide herbicide applications, the oil is not changed. It is identical to canola oil from non-modified or accepted canola crops.

This new video about genetically adapted herbicide-tolerant canola crops can be viewed, downloaded or anchored into addition Web website from the Conversations about Plant Biotechnology Web site. In addition, visitors to the Web website can video videos with added Canadian farmers about agriculture biotechnology in Canada and with experts about the safety of genetically adapted foods.

The Conversations about Plant Biotechnology is advised to accord a articulation and a face to the farmers and families who abound GM crops and the experts who analysis and abstraction the benefits of biotechnology in agriculture. The Web website contains added than 70 two- to three-minute, candid, aboveboard and acute video segments with the humans who apperceive the technology best. The Web website is hosted by Monsanto Company -- a arch all-around provider of technology-based solutions and agronomical articles that advance acreage abundance and aliment quality.

Contact:
Ranjana Smetacek
314-694-2642
ranjana.smetacek @ monsanto.com