The debate over genetically-modified crops is an intense one, and an aim of the Grains Research and Development Corporation is to make sure Australian growers, researchers and advisers are not ignorant of GM developments overseas as we tackle with the implications of the technology at home.

To that end, the GRDC invited leading Canadian oilseed breeder Dr Van Ripley of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Saskatoon Research Centre, to address a series of GRDC Research Updates held in February in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

There have been conflicting claims in Australia about the development and success of the GM canola industry in Canada, however Dr Ripley makes it clear GM canola now dominates the Canadian market nine years since the first crops were grown on about 12,000 hectares in 1995.

In 2004, GM canola captured 77% of the market (almost four million hectares) while herbicide-tolerant canola accounted for 92% of the market (4.7 million ha). About 7.7 million tonnes of GM canola was produced in Canada in 2004, and this figure is forecast to rise to 10 million tonnes by 2015.

The impact on production has been positive, Dr Ripley says. From a survey conducted in 2000 by the Canola Council of Canada, it was clear that the introduction of GM canola had accelerated the adoption of minimum or no-till farming systems. Among GM canola growers, about 80% reported improved weed control. The survey also revealed overall savings in fuel consumption and a 40% reduction in herbicide costs (equivalent to 6000 tonnes of herbicide NOT being used in the year 2000). There was an overall benefit of about A$14/ha.

Canada's canola breeding is now tackling the next challenge. Hybrids - bred for nutritional enhancement and stress tolerance - are now the focus of the breeding program according to Dr Ripley. These have been adopted rapidly by Canadian growers and accounted for half the market in 2004 due to their consistency in yield across diverse conditions and a high level of performance during Canada's 2002-03 drought.

One promising new crop is Brassica juncea canola, which has revealed numerous benefits - increased resistance to pod shattering and blackleg, seedling vigour, and increased tolerance to heat, drought and frost.

Canadian breeders have also introduced nutritional enhancements to 'specialty oil canola', in particular reducing the content of 'trans-fats' and saturated fats in canola. High-oleic low-linolenic (HOLL) varieties produce a healthier oil that also has greater frying stability. Apart from use in the food industry, there is potential for HOLL types in industrial applications. Canadian breeders are also looking seriously at canola varieties that can be used in the production of bio-diesel fuel.

However Dr Ripley says the next development will be yellow-seeded canola for animal feed. Conventional canola meal's disadvantage compared to soybean meal is its high fibre content due to the thick black seed coating. The yellow-seeded variety has a "thinner skin", therefore less fibre. Early trials have found yellow-seeded Brassica napus canola meal had a higher metabolisable energy content than its black-seeded cousin.

It's clear our Canadian friends are moving far ahead along the GM path and the impact on their canola industry has been, for the most part, positive. While GM canola has been effectively put on hold in Australia, conventional breeding is producing some results about which we also learned at GRDC updates - and we'll talk about these soon.