CropLife Canada statement on final plant breeding innovation guidance
CropLife Canada welcomes the completion of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada’s comprehensive review and update of policy guidance related to plant breeding innovation in Canada. The CFIA’s publication of ‘Guidance on how to determine when a plant-derived ingredient requires a feed pre-market evaluation’, which aligns with Health Canada’s updated guidance for novel foods, and CFIAs guidance for environmental release marks the final step in this process. This coordinated guidance helps to create a clear, predictable and science-based regulatory system that stands to make Canada a world leader in attracting investment and innovation in plant breeding.
The plant science industry has long been awaiting this updated guidance as some other countries around the world completed their updates as early as 2015. These updates are critical to providing a clear path for much-needed investment in new made-in-Canada crop varieties through methods like gene editing, to ensure farmers have the tools they need to improve their productivity while reducing their impact on the environment.
Whether it is increased instances of drought or new and changing pest pressures, the challenges Canadian farmers are facing mean they cannot afford to wait for new, game changing innovations. Canadian agriculture needs quick and decisive action to support science-based policies that drive agricultural innovation going forward.
Plant breeding innovations like gene editing have the potential to deliver healthier food, more resilient and productive crops, and plant varieties that require fewer resources to grow. These innovations support the agriculture industry’s efforts to reduce its environmental footprint while contributing to food affordability, food security and economic prosperity.
The plant science industry recognizes the importance of transparency in supporting Canada’s diverse production systems, maintaining market access, addressing value chain market needs and helping to build public trust. We maintain our long-standing commitment to transparency.
The Government of Canada must now continue to advocate internationally for regulatory alignment with trading partners. As a scientific policy leader and an export dependent nation, Canada must relentlessly pursue measures that support market access for Canadian-grown crops, which will be increasingly needed to combat the rise of global food insecurity.
Plant breeding innovations are an important example of the critical role agriculture can play in helping Canada achieve its economic, environmental and social goals. The time is now for Canada to elevate the importance of agricultural innovation as a driver of prosperity for Canadians.