Canada’s revised guidelines for gene-edited seeds put organic sector at risk, producers say

Published 2023년 6월 9일

Tridge summary

Canada's organic farming sector expresses concerns over the government's new seed guidelines, which permit some gene-edited (GE) seeds that have not undergone an independent safety assessment. The guidelines aim to allow seeds with modifications that do not involve foreign DNA or pesticide resistance. This could lead to the development of drought-resistant crops and varieties like pit-less cherries and sweeter broccoli. However, organic farmers are worried that the lack of a mandatory registry of organic producers and the absence of clear labeling requirements for GE ingredients could put their sector at risk and could potentially contaminate organic produce. The guidelines are also expected to stimulate research and development in the seed industry, helping Canada catch up to countries like Japan and the USA.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

The organic farming sector in Canada has said the government’s updated gene-edited (GE) seed guidelines could put its produce at risk, CBC News reported. Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau announced on 3 May that Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) seed guidelines would allow for some modified plants. The updated seed rules now allowed seeds created through GE that were not spliced with foreign DNA or altered to make them pesticide-resistant, the 10 May report said. These seeds would be approved without an independent safety assessment by the government, as they were already considered safe, CBC News wrote. Canada also announced an industry-managed database — Canada’s Canadian Variety Transparency Database — to make it clear which seeds were and were not organic. While that database was voluntary, Bibeau said it would be overseen by a steering committee including organic producers. Canada’s move could lead to an increase in drought-resistant ...

Source: UkrAgroConsult