Clos This Window Close This Window

Send To Your Printer Send To Your Printer

Art Enns


Major Crops: Canola, soybeans

Farm Size: 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares)

Years Farming: 30+

First Planted Biotech Crops: 1998

Favorite Benefits: Better weed control.  Reduced spraying.  Environmental benefits.

Family: Married, two children.

I think we are just starting down that road, what biotechnology can provide.
I think we are just starting down that road, what biotechnology can provide.
Send Link to this Page
close X

Related Article


SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES BENEFIT PRODUCERS IN CANADA
Biotechnology Enables Enns to Minimize the Environmental Impact on His Family's Farm

In 2005 in Canada, biotechnology crops totaled 14 million acres (5.6 million hectares), with Canadian growers continuing to be among the principal adopters globally along with the United States, Argentina, Brazil and China.

Art Enns, a Canadian canola and soybean farmer, grows GM crops not just for efficiency and economic benefits, but because they enable farmers to increase sustainable farming practices — achieving environmental benefits not possible with traditional farming methods.

"We've been able to reduce our spraying — a lot of times just to one pass,” says Enns, who operates a family farm with his brother. "Yes, it does save us some money. But for me, it just means less application of chemicals. And it's just a much more efficient way of trying to control a lot of those situations out there. ...

"And it gives you the independence of being kind of stewards of the land also. Not only taking out of the land, but providing that the next generations will also have a future in farming,” says Enns regarding the benefits of sustainable farming from a long-term perspective.

Dr. Klaus Ammann, a notable botanist and chairman of the Section Biodiversity of the European Federation of Biotechnology, says that contrary to what some say, "[Agricultural biotechnology] is a help for conservation, because the less land you use for production of food, the more is set aside for conservation use.”

Enns, who cultivates 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares), sees these possibilities for land conservation in Canada with biotechnology. "Maybe we don't need 3,000 acres to grow some of these crops. Maybe you can go back to a smaller land base, smaller crops to be able to grow these things that will return a very high return on a small acreage. ...

"I think there's some great possibilities out there.I watch what's happening, and I think we are just starting down that road, what biotechnology can provide.”

© 2006 Monsanto Company. All rights reserved. The copyright holder consents to the use of this material and the images in the published context only and solely for the purpose of promoting the benefits of agricultural biotechnology.

Video Transcript



My name's Art Enns. ... I've been farming for the past 30 years.  On a family farm operation in partnership with my brother...

... On our farm, it's mainly canola and soybeans that we've been into.  Those are the two crops that grow the best in our region over here. ...

... We have some very adverse weather conditions that we deal with all of the time. ...

... But with the introduction of biotechnology and some of the vigor that is bred into the plants and some of the — some of the — characteristics that the plant have, we can pretty well choose almost anything, any areas, to grow this thing.  We don't — we aren't as restricted in our crop rotations as we used to be. ...

... So now, with the new biotechnology, we've been able to reduce our spraying — a lot of times just to one pass. ... Yes, it does save us some money.  But for me, it just means less application of chemicals.  And it's just a much more efficient way of trying to control a lot of those situations out there. ...

... And it gives you the independence of being kind of stewards of the land also.  Not only taking out of the land, but providing that the next generations will also have a future in farming. ...

... I grew up along these rivers.  And as a kid, I used to swim in there.  And I enjoyed some of the recreational things over there.  And I want to make sure that we can try keeping it as clean as possible for future generations. ...

... It may change the landscape of farming too.  Maybe we don't need 3,000 acres to grow some of these crops.  Maybe you can go back to a smaller land base, smaller crops to be able to grow these things that will return a very high return on a small acreage. ...

... And I think there's some great possibilities out there.  I watch what's happening, and I think we are just starting down that road, what biotechnology can provide. ...

... We need to do a better job of educating people out there.  I don't think they really understand what it brings.  I think there's been some pretty good scare tactics being put out there by certain groups.  And I just really think that people need to sit down and really take a close, hard look at it. ...

... And I just want the ability to choose what works best for me.  Farmers are smart people.  They're businessmen.  They use calculators, computers, like everybody else. ...

... I really think that farming can be fun. ... And I think it's — it's a field that's opening up.  And I think it's a real novel field, and an interesting one that I look forward to.  I hope I'm around long enough to see some of these things come around. ...

Editor's Notes:

  • 1 hectare = 2.5 acres
  • Pesticides registered by the U.S. EPA will not cause unreasonable adverse effects on man or the environment, when used in accordance with label directions.

© 2005 Monsanto Company. All rights reserved. The copyright holder consents to the use of this material and the images in the published context only and solely for the purpose of promoting the benefits of agricultural biotechnology.