St. Louis, Missouri
September 15, 2008
Canadian farmers first planted genetically modified (GM)
herbicide-tolerant canola crops in the mid-1990s. Today, nearly
90 percent of Canadian canola farmers are planting 90 percent of
the canola hectares nationwide to GM canola.
In a new online video released today,
Canadian farmer Fred Meister discusses his experience growing
genetically modified canola crops, which he personally has
adopted on 100 percent of his canola hectares. "We took some of
the first contracts that were out there," says Meister, a
second-generation family farmer who also grows field peas, wheat
and barley. "We now grow 100 percent herbicide-tolerant crops
that are GM crops."
In canola, as in most crops, there are some weeds that are
difficult for farmers to control once the crop starts growing
because herbicides can injure the crop as well as the weeds.
Genetically modified herbicide-tolerant canola plants have been
modified to tolerate specific herbicides, making weed control
easier and better.
"The benefits of using GM crops, for me, is the herbicide
tolerance," continues Meister. "You use less herbicide, as far
as that goes. Also, the tillage of the ground."
Growers use tillage to control weeds and prepare the soil for
planting. Excessive tillage can negatively impact the soil and
increase soil erosion. "Without them, you have to disturb the
soil and that can lead to erosion and wind and water 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 grown in North America
for more than 30 years, primarily for food use. The pods on
canola plants contain seeds that are pressed to extract oil,
which is lower in saturated fat than other vegetable oils and is
a better source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E.
"We grow it mainly for food use oil. The meal that's left over
after the oil's extracted is used for a number of uses - but
mostly for animal feeds," explains Meister. While the plants are
modified to tolerate herbicide applications, the oil is not
changed. It is identical to canola oil from non-modified or
conventional canola crops.
This new video about genetically modified herbicide-tolerant
canola crops can be viewed, downloaded or embedded into another
Web site from the Conversations about Plant Biotechnology Web
site. In addition, visitors to the Web site can video videos
with other Canadian farmers about agriculture biotechnology in
Canada and with experts about the safety of genetically modified
foods.
The
Conversations about Plant Biotechnology
is designed to give a voice and a face to the farmers and
families who grow GM crops and the experts who research and
study the benefits of biotechnology in agriculture. The Web site
contains more than 70 two- to three-minute, candid,
straightforward and compelling video segments with the people
who know the technology best. The Web site is hosted by
Monsanto Company -- a
leading global provider of technology-based solutions and
agricultural products that improve farm productivity |
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