Canola Council of Canada- Setting Sail for 2015-

“Constraints to Growing Canola Markets”

L.H. Hepworth

CropLife Canada

Halifax, July 2005

The opportunity through innovation….

….the coming transformation of agriculture.

Starch Carbo- hydrates

Oil

Indus-trial

Fresh Food

Pro-teins

Pharma

Biode-gradablePlastics

Fibers

Others

Crop Production(genetics & chemicals)

~ 40 billion €Chemical Crop Protection

25 billion €

Renewable Materials> 500 billion €

InsecticidesFungicides

Herbicides

Others

Plant BiotechnologyPlant

Breeding

ChemicalCrop Protection

<1995> 2015

valu

e

Emergence of a Bio-Economy

A new strategic direction Plant Science within a changing industry

environment

Crop Protection

Plant

Biotechnology

New markets – examples

New markets

Value capturing

Cropprotectionand/orseeds

Input traits

Grower/distributor

Customer group

Professional/ industrial

Consumer

Outputtraits(GM, non-GM)

Fresh produce

Health, dietary components

Animal feed

Bio-fuels

Home & garden products

Allergencontrol

Herbicide tolerant turf

Higher value crops

Cereals with reduced

mycotoxins

Current agri markets

Bt cornHT canolaHT soya

Conven-tional agri business

Professional products

• Theme for Parliamentary and Legislative receptions

• Co-hosted with Canola Council, Alberta Canola Producers Commission and others

• “Grow Canola”– identified as a platform for growth in plant biotech– preferred position on crop protection products

While we see opportunity and solutions to societal problems

through innovation ….

… some in the public see…

Globe and Mail

November 27, 2003

Constraints to capturing the opportunity for Canada and Canola

Regulatory and public acceptance and infrastructure constraints to the adoption of plant science innovation

Public acceptance– Industry must constantly demonstrate that they are

good stewards

– Ensure first class regulatory system that enjoys the public’s confidence – domestic and global

– Communicate track record of success on both counts

Putting stewardshipfirst™

• Pro-active industry approach to protecting the environment and public health over and above (or instead of) what government requires

• Self-regulatory initiatives• Multi-stakeholder, life-cycle approach• “walk the talk”• Canadian industry a world leader e.gs. empty

pesticide container management, novel trait confined field trial management

Bio-stewardship

1. Novel trait confined field trial training programs• 300 researchers – industry, university, govt

• Plots, greenhouse, plant molecular farming

• CFIA reports improved compliance

2. Transparency• New submission on CFIA website

• Lists what studies completed

• 60 day comment period

Bio-stewardship cont’d

3. LMO database indicating commercial status of approved events in Canada

4. Managing HT Volunteers• Best Management Practices Guide – 60,000• Workshops• Annual report – CCC a contributor

Regulatory Constraints• Lack of harmonization despite some progress

– Canada/U.S.A./OECD – Canada/provinces/municipalities –getting worse– Across fed. government departments/agencies– Failure of CODEX e.gs. MRL’s, AP– Minor use pesticides

• Non science-based regulation (junk science)– Regulating in areas beyond environment and public

health/safety– E.gs.: RIONAP/4th hurdle (leave to trade), GMO food

labelling– Public policy directed at areas of no/low/perceived risk

rather than “real” risk

Regulatory constraints cont’d

• Regulatory vacuum e.g. nutraceuticals, functional food claims

• Failure to defend rigorous regulatory system• Failure on risk communication by both

government and industry– Third leg of the stool– Do a good job on risk assessment and risk management– Lousy job on risk communication – Lousy job on communicating about risk in and

understandable, non-condescending way

What’s needed to Grow Canada1. Smart Regulation by government• Protecting and “enabling” v. “disabling” regulation

e.gs. health claims, bio-fuel, minor/micro use pesticides

• Dismantle or modernize disabling/outdated regulatory agencies and infrastructure

• Harmonization• Better job at defending regulatory system and

communicating about risk• Public policy directed at areas of “real” risk not

no/low/perceived risk• Maintaining momentum

From government cont’d

2. CODEX has to be more timely in their decision making e.gs. MRL’s, GMO tolerances

3. Implement Agriculture Policy Framework• High degree of alignment with pillars

– Food safety/env sustainability with stewardshipfirst

– Science and innovation

– Needs marketing savvy!!

4. Truly make innovation/productivity a priority, not just lip service

What’s Needed to Grow CanadaFrom industry value chain• Better at communicating about benefits and

advantages to complement transparency on risk• Trade to resolve RIONAP/market access – BMPs? • More stewardship (self regulation)

– agreement on/implementation of - HACCP/ISO 22000, SQF, EurepGAP, Environmental Farm Plans etc.

• Further development and implementation of identity preservation/traceback system

• Win:win:win financial return scenarios between value chain participants

What’s need to Grow Canada cont’d

Finally - Leadership

• At the political level

• At the senior government officials’ level

• At industry level

…. To chart and implement the vision