Wheat Growers Makes Submission On Novel Foods Regulations

May 28, 2021

The Western Canadian Wheat Growers have made a submission to Health Canada’s proposed new guidance for the Novel Foods Regulation, focused on plant breeding.

The consultation addresses issues such as gene-editing and the need to better understand the technology needed to address production and environmental challenges.

In a news release, the Wheat Growers say the group is supportive of the recommended changes and believe that efforts in this area will help to address some of Canada’s pressing domestic food, health, and environmental challenges.

Norm Dreger is in charge of stakeholder relations with the Wheat Growers.

"There's going to be better varieties," he said. "They're going to have things like better disease resistance. You might be able to take advantage of certain customers in the market that are looking for things like low gluten, or perhaps they're looking for high fibre...It's offering growers of western Canada, varieties that are going to let them tap into new marketing opportunities."

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.