Australia, Canada and USA
May 14, 2009
The
Grain Growers of Canada,
Western Canadian Wheat
Growers Association and the
Alberta
Winter Wheat Producers Commission announce that they have
reached an accord with Australian and US wheat producers on the
need for the synchronized introduction of biotech wheat.
“Wheat acreage in Canada is in danger of declining even more
unless we see innovation in plant breeding,” said Doug
Robertson, President of the Grain Growers. “As farmers we will
switch acres into those crops which have the best return. In
recent years, we have seen wheat yields stagnate in comparison
to canola, corn and soybeans.”
The application of biotechnology in wheat research could lead to
the development of several traits to improve wheat yields and
wheat quality. Traits to improve yields could include those that
deal with environmental factors (e.g. drought, cold tolerance),
combat weed or insect infestations (e.g. midge, sawfly), improve
disease resistance (e.g. fusarium, rust) or improve the wheat
plant’s utilization of nutrients. Traits to improve the quality
attributes of wheat could include those that are designed to
accommodate consumers with food allergies, reduce obesity, or
improve the nutritional profile of wheat-based foods.
“Prairie farmers and consumers around the globe have benefitted
tremendously from the development of biotech traits in canola,”
says Kevin Bender, President of the Western Canadian Wheat
Growers. “Using the same tools in wheat could improve yields,
increase farm profits and better meet the needs of future
consumers.”
Wheat acreage in western Canada has declined significantly over
the past two decades, in part due to its declining profitability
(relative to canola and other crops) and increased competition
from wheat producers in Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan and
Argentina.
“Being early adopters of new biotech traits in wheat could help
restore our competitive advantage,” says Kent Erickson, Chairman
of the Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission.
“Coordinating our efforts with farmers in other leading-edge
countries will ensure Canadian wheat producers are not left
behind and instead are among the first to take advantage of this
technology.”
Canadian growers are working with American and Australia farmers
to ensure the commercial introduction of biotech traits in wheat
will proceed smoothly by synchronizing regulatory approvals in
exporting and importing nations.
Given the time frame of six to eight years for new biotech wheat
varieties to reach commercial introduction, it is critical to
signal both seed developers and policymakers now, that many
farmers are eager to see biotech traits in wheat that could
improve their profitability and improve food security for many
countries around the world.
Joint international statement
Wheat Biotechnology
Commercialization
Statement of Canadian, American and Australian Wheat
Organizations
May 14, 2009
In the interest of expressing support for more efficient,
sustainable and profitable production of wheat around the
world, the undersigned organizations have approved the
following joint statement concerning commercialization of
biotechnology in wheat:
- Wheat is a vital food
to all peoples of the world and we believe that by
developing higher yielding better quality wheat
varieties we can better supply the world with wheat food
products.
- One important tool to
help feed the world into the future is biotechnology.
Basic agronomic
improvements to wheat like strengthening disease and
insect resistance, enhancing wheat's use of soil
nutrients and water, increasing its tolerance to weather
extremes like drought and frost, are all possible with
biotechnology. Another critical area for biotechnology
is to improve the nutritional aspects of wheat to
facilitate healthier living for people all over the
world. Biotechnology is not the only answer to these
questions, but it will be a significant component in
solutions.
- In many of our
production areas, wheat production is under pressure
from competing crops which, through the application of
biotechnology, have achieved higher productivity,
reduced input use, and other benefits not available in
wheat. As a result, the historic area of wheat
production has declined in many areas and economics are
driving producers away from wheat and into other crops
if they have alternatives. If wheat continues on a
non-biotech course, then farmers will continue to devote
a greater share of their acreage to biotech crops, where
profitability is relatively greater, resulting in lower
world wheat production than would otherwise be the case.
- In general, wheat
yields are on a very slow growth trend in comparison
with competing crops, and the longer it takes to
increase the growth rate the bigger will be the hole
from which the industry must climb.
- Biotechnology is a
proven technique to deploy traits of interest with a
high degree of precision in agricultural crops. Crops
derived through biotechnology are subjected to strict
regulatory scrutiny before commercialization. Over 10
years of global experience with biotechnology has
demonstrated a convincing record of safety and
environmental benefits as well as quality and
productivity gains.
- Lack of private and
public investment in wheat research has left wheat
development behind the advances in competing commodity
crops, and has also led to a shortage of scientific
expertise in wheat research generally. By providing an
opportunity for private companies, the level of activity
in wheat research will expand and attract a new
generation of scientists into the field.
In light of these
resolutions, we will work toward the goal of
synchronized commercialization of biotech traits in our
wheat crops. While none of us hold a veto over the
actions of others, we believe it is in all of our best
interests to introduce biotech wheat varieties in a
coordinated fashion to minimize market disruptions and
shorten the period of adjustment. We are also committed
to working with other stakeholders to address their
needs and concerns as we travel the road to
commercialization.
USA
National
Association of Wheat Growers
U.S. Wheat Associates
North American Millers’ Association
Canada
Grain Growers of Canada
Western Canadian Wheat
Growers Association
Alberta
Winter Wheat Producers Commission
Australia
Grains Council of
Australia
Grain Growers Association
Pastoralists and Graziers
Association of Western
Australia Inc.
|
|
|