Skip to content

GM Canola - the pros and the cons

Whether or not to grow genetically modified (GM) canola is still a big issue in Australia, whereas in Canada, the genie has been out of the bottle for a long time.
GS201110301279996AR.jpg

Whether or not to grow genetically modified (GM) canola is still a big issue in Australia, whereas in Canada, the genie has been out of the bottle for a long time. I've been writing an article for the Australian Farm Institute on the pros and cons associated with GM canola from a Canadian perspective, so I've been reflecting on the experiences of the past 15 years.

Both Monsanto's Roundup Ready canola and Liberty Link / InVigor canola from Bayer CropScience were introduced in the mid-90s. The acreages of these two herbicide tolerant types of canola have steadily increased.

The other canola system of note, accounting for a declining minority of the Canadian acreage, is Clearfield. While this involves resistance to another type of herbicide chemistry, the resistance trait was incorporated through regular plant breeding methods and not through transgenics so it isn't actually GM.

Interestingly, most Canadian growers are oblivious to this distinction. They choose the system that works best for their farming operation. There is brisk competition in variety improvement within each of the systems and producer choices are greatly influenced by the superiority of varieties, irrespective of system.

Canadian canola is not segregated, so no matter what system a producer is using, the production has to go into markets that will accept GM traits.

When GM canola was introduced, it was assumed that European approval for the technology would be gained within a few years. Instead, Europe's resistance hardened. In recent years, most GM canola traits have gradually been approved in Europe, but sales of Canadian canola into that marketplace remain stalled.

On the positive side, the GM herbicide resistance traits have allowed producers to achieve superior weed control with the use of less herbicide. On top of this, the plant breeding companies have made significant progress with yield enhancement and disease resistance through traditional plant breeding.

Without Roundup Ready and Liberty Link, there would have been increased selection pressure for weeds to develop resistance to the other limited herbicide options within canola crops.

Although not the "super weed" detractors predicted, canola has become its own weed control issue, particularly the Roundup Ready varieties since glyphosate is such a widely used herbicide. Producers certainly need to be aware of canola volunteers when planning their cropping rotations and weed control.

However, it wouldn't have been any different had the resistance been achieved through regular plant breeding rather than transgenic manipulation. Similar issues occur with Clearfield canola even though it isn't GM.

Very little canola is grown from farmer saved seed. This was a common practice until the mid-90s, but the change is not entirely related to the GM issue. Most farmers are unable to do the necessary application of fungicide and insecticide to the planting seed.

As well, the seed companies are exercising their patent protection and requiring producers to buy new seed each year. Most of the varieties are now hybrid and the seed would not perform well in subsequent years anyway.

Part of the opposition to GM is actually opposition to corporate control of agriculture. Even without GM traits, it seems likely that most producers would still be buying their canola planting seed each year.

For the most part, the problems caused by GM canola have been due to perception - that somehow GM canola is something to be feared even though there is no credible evidence supporting that viewpoint.

If the Roundup Ready and Liberty Link traits had been achieved without GM technology, the market access problems would have been avoided, but the same agronomic issues would have remained.

Canola has become Canada's number one crop because it's been a profitable cropping option for growers. GM traits have contributed greatly to that success, even though the fear of GM has caused issues.

Kevin Hursh is a consulting agrologist and farmer based in Saskatoon. He can be reached via email at kevin@hursh.ca.