Close This Window
Send To Your Printer
Subscribe
Printer Friendly
Send to a Friend
Video Gallery
Related Article
Genetically Modified Canola Crops Provide Environmental Benefits to Farmers
Meister Reduces Herbicide Applications and Tillage on His Farm
Canadian farmers first planted genetically modified (GM) herbicide-tolerant canola crops in the mid-1990s. Today, nearly 90 percent of Canadian canola farmers are planting 90 percent of the canola hectares nationwide to GM canola.
“We took some of the first contracts that were out there,” says Meister, a second-generation family farmer who also grows field peas, wheat and barley. “We now grow 100 percent herbicide-tolerant crops that are GM crops.”
In canola, as in most crops, there are some weeds that are difficult for farmers to control once the crop starts growing because herbicides can injure the crop as well as the weeds. Genetically modified herbicide-tolerant canola plants have been modified to tolerate specific herbicides, making weed control easier and better.
“The benefits of using GM crops, for me, is the herbicide tolerance,” continues Meister. “You use less herbicide, as far as that goes. Also, the tillage of the ground.”
Growers use tillage to control weeds and prepare the soil for planting. Excessive tillage can negatively impact the soil and increase soil erosion. The adoption of conservation tillage or no till farming has increased soil erosion control, while reducing runoff, tractor fuel use and greenhouse gas emission. In 2006 alone, greenhouse gas emissions were reduced 14.8 million metric tons, which is equivalent to removing 6.5 million cars from the road.
“Without [GM canola], you have to disturb the soil and that can lead to erosion and wind and water erosion,” says Meister about herbicide-tolerant canola. “So, environmentally, we feel that it is a big help.”
Canola is an oil-seed crop that has been grown in North America for more than 30 years, primarily for food use. The pods on canola plants contain seeds that are pressed to extract oil, which is lower in saturated fat than other vegetable oils and is a better source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E.
“We grow it mainly for food use oil. The meal that's left over after the oil’s extracted is used for a number of uses – but mostly for animal feeds,” explains Meister. While the plants are modified to tolerate herbicide applications, the oil is not changed. It is identical to canola oil from non-modified or conventional canola crops.
French farmers discuss the benefits of GM crops and explain why they think the country needs to reevaluate and adopt plant biotechnology.
