Clos This Window Close This Window

Send To Your Printer Send To Your Printer

Lorne Hamblin


Major Crops: Soybeans, barley, wheat, oats, canola, specialty beans, grass seed

Farm Size: 2,000 acres (800 hectares)

Years Farming: 30+

First Planted Biotech Crops: 1998

Favorite Benefits: Better weed control.  Diversified crop rotations.  Better yields and profits.

Family: Married, three children.

What biotech, I think, does for the next generation is gonna sustain the farmer and probably make them viable.
What biotech, I think, does for the next generation is gonna sustain the farmer and probably make them viable.
Send Link to this Page
close X

Related Article


BIOTECH IN CANADA DELIVERS VALUABLE BENEFITS TO GROWERS
Pro GMO Farmer Lorne Hamblin Believes Future Traits Will Keep Farming Viable

Growers have rapidly increased plantings of biotech in Canada — reaching 14 million acres (5.6 million hectares) of genetically modified (GMO) canola, corn and soybeans in 2005. Canadian grower Lorne Hamblin first planted GMOs in 1998, and is a strong proponent of current and future applications of biotech in Canada.

"Biotechnology has allowed us to do things that we haven't been able to before. And that's — up until now — probably been mostly on the crop management side," says Hamblin, who has been farming for more than 30 years and currently produces soybeans, barley, wheat, oats, canola, specialty beans and grass seed.

"It's given us the opportunity to clean up fields, to grow different crops. And, biotech enhances yields and the bottom line. So it's exciting," continues Hamblin describing the reasons he is pro GMO. "You know, there's lots to do in it yet, but it's been a great farm tool for farmers in this area."

Of the more than 60 countries studying and/or cultivating GMOs, Canada is a leader in the research, development and adoption of new plant biotechnology traits. According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, approximately 250 field trials were conducted in Canada on 12 different crops in Spring 2006.

"Biotech, to us, has been just an incredible step that just takes us down the same road as science," explains Hamblin. "What biotech, I think, does for the next generation is going to sustain the farmer and probably make them viable. ... We're selling our crops today at less a price. The only thing that has saved us is yield. Well, I don't think yield's going to save us for the next 20 years. Biotech's going to save us."

© 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



I'm Lorne Hamblin, and ... I've been farming for 30 years. ... Biotech, to us, has been just an incredible step that just takes us down the same road as science.

Biotechnology has allowed us to do things that we haven't been able to before.  And that's — up until now — probably been mostly on the crop management side. ...it's given us the opportunity to clean up fields, to grow different crops.  And, biotech enhances yields and the bottom line.  So it's exciting.  You know, there's lots to do in it yet, but it's been a great farm tool for farmers in this area. ...

Plus, when you look at resistant weeds that have been coming along over the last number of years, it's given us that extra tool in our toolbox, as they say, to take care of those resistant weeds. ...

What biotech, I think, does for the next generation is gonna sustain the farmer and probably make them viable. ... We're selling our crops today at less a price.  The only thing that has saved us is yield.  Well, I don't think yield's gonna save us for the next 20 years.  Biotech's gonna save us...

... We just have to keep coming through with the science and the knowledge cause, you know, I believe that science base is gonna win out.  And knowledge will win out. ...

What we can do with biotech and to get food products growing into specific conditions — it's a win-win for the world.  It's an absolute win-win.

And, we just need to keep going down that road and be persistent on it; and keep telling our story better.

© 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.