~ Cami Ryan ~~ Cami Ryan ~University of SaskatchewanUniversity of Saskatchewan
Flax DayFlax Day“From Dialogue to Direction”“From Dialogue to Direction”
January 9, 2012January 9, 2012
�� Funding through Saskatchewan Flax Funding through Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission and Development Commission and Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP)Program (CAAP)Program (CAAP)Program (CAAP)
�� Grower SurveyGrower Survey�� Document the impact of the Document the impact of the TriffidTriffid Flax Flax
issueissue�� Administered to 8000 Administered to 8000 SaskFlaxSaskFlax membersmembers�� n = 272n = 272
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�� Background of Genetically Modified Background of Genetically Modified Flax (CDC Flax (CDC TriffidTriffid) to 2001) to 2001
�� The ReThe Re--emergence of GM Flax: 2009 emergence of GM Flax: 2009 ––2011201120112011
�� Review of results from Flax Grower Review of results from Flax Grower SurveySurvey
�� Summary Thoughts…Summary Thoughts…
33
Canada
Source: FAO Stats
IndiaIndia
USUS
ChinaChina
44
�� Plant with novel traits (PNT)Plant with novel traits (PNT)�� Developed in the late 80s at the Crop Development Developed in the late 80s at the Crop Development
Centre / U of S)Centre / U of S)�� Value of Value of TriffidTriffid -- environmentalenvironmental
�� Tolerance to soil residues of sulfonylureaTolerance to soil residues of sulfonylurea--based based herbicides herbicides herbicides herbicides
�� Cultivated the year after herbicide was used in fieldsCultivated the year after herbicide was used in fields�� Alternative to continuous cropping of wheat/barley and Alternative to continuous cropping of wheat/barley and
to summerto summer--fallowingfallowing
55
1988 1989 1994
Feed ApprovalFeed ApprovalFeed ApprovalFeed Approval
1996 1996/97
FoodFoodFoodFood
Food/FeedFood/FeedFood/FeedFood/Feed
19981997/98
??
Recall and crush organizedRecall and crush organized
CDC CDC TriffidTriffid transported/crushed/destroyedtransported/crushed/destroyed
2000
77
2001
CDC CDC TriffidTriffid deregisteredderegistered
CDC CDC TriffidTriffid transported/crushed/destroyedtransported/crushed/destroyed
JulyJuly20092009
SeptSept20092009
16K 16K tonnestonnes in quarantinein quarantineOctOct20092009
Testing!!!!Testing!!!!
88
99
1010
Source: Source: VijuViju etaletal 20112011
NPTII marker discoveredNPTII marker discovered
FP967 notification on RASFFFP967 notification on RASFF
Launch of Stewardship ProtocolLaunch of Stewardship Protocol
1111 Data Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture (2011)Data Source: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture (2011)
�� Seed sources, production and sales:Seed sources, production and sales:�� 70% did not change seed sources70% did not change seed sources�� Of the 30% that Of the 30% that did did [check all that apply]:[check all that apply]:
üü Bought certified from another source: Bought certified from another source: 74% 74% üü Non longer used farmNon longer used farm--saved seed: saved seed: 22% 22% üü Used different farmUsed different farm--saved seed: saved seed: 14%14%üü Used different farmUsed different farm--saved seed: saved seed: 14%14%
�� 19% reported reduction in sales; of those, 83% indicated 19% reported reduction in sales; of those, 83% indicated sales were reduced by 50% or moresales were reduced by 50% or more
�� 74% sold to grain companies (2010/11)74% sold to grain companies (2010/11)�� 78% of all respondents indicated that the practice of 78% of all respondents indicated that the practice of
saving farm seed has become more importantsaving farm seed has become more important
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“I am worried that the right to use farm saved seed is being forced “I am worried that the right to use farm saved seed is being forced away from the producer. It is not a large corporation ‘right’ to away from the producer. It is not a large corporation ‘right’ to
be able to force these seed issues.”be able to force these seed issues.”
�� Testing and Stewardship:Testing and Stewardship:�� 26,000 tests conducted on over 10,000 seed lots26,000 tests conducted on over 10,000 seed lots�� 0.0498% of seed lots tested positive for 0.0498% of seed lots tested positive for TriffidTriffid�� Widespread, very lowWidespread, very low--level presencelevel presence
1313Map generated by M. St. Louis; Data sourced from Flax Council of CanadaMap generated by M. St. Louis; Data sourced from Flax Council of Canada
“I think the testing for “I think the testing for TriffidTriffid is way overis way over--priced and inaccurate. I have sent priced and inaccurate. I have sent flax samples from the same lot twice and received two results: one negative flax samples from the same lot twice and received two results: one negative
and one positive.”and one positive.”
�� Testing and Stewardship:Testing and Stewardship:�� Identified challenges: negative at origin does not Identified challenges: negative at origin does not
necessarily mean negative at destinationnecessarily mean negative at destination�� No guarantees:No guarantees:
“I don’t see the need to have flax tested in the fall for sale then the same “I don’t see the need to have flax tested in the fall for sale then the same seed tested in the spring for seeding. That’s a total ripseed tested in the spring for seeding. That’s a total rip--off in my opinion.”off in my opinion.”
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“[The grain company] didn’t even ask to see test results “[The grain company] didn’t even ask to see test results –– I think thatI think thatwe have tested enough.”we have tested enough.”
•• Testing costs:Testing costs:�� 55% 55% -- $500 or less; 29% $500 or less; 29% -- $500 to 999$ range; 11% $500 to 999$ range; 11% -- over $1000over $1000
�� Test results:Test results:
�� Perceptions around issue management, Perceptions around issue management, communication & access to information:communication & access to information:�� Who are the primary actors?: Who are the primary actors?:
�� differentiated resultsdifferentiated results�� Key sources for info?Key sources for info?
�� Western Producer and Western Producer and SaskFlaxSaskFlax NewsletterNewsletter�� Western Producer and Western Producer and SaskFlaxSaskFlax NewsletterNewsletter�� 73% stated that there was adequate to more than 73% stated that there was adequate to more than
adequate amount of info adequate amount of info �� 5% stated ‘not acceptable at all’5% stated ‘not acceptable at all’
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�� Flax and future production:Flax and future production:�� 63% stated that they would likely grow flax again in 63% stated that they would likely grow flax again in
same or more quantitiessame or more quantities�� 23% would continue to grow flax, but less of it23% would continue to grow flax, but less of it�� 9% stated that they would abandon it altogether9% stated that they would abandon it altogether
�� Market volatility huge detractorMarket volatility huge detractor�� Market volatility huge detractorMarket volatility huge detractor
1616
“We will only grow flax when the “We will only grow flax when the TriffidTriffid issue is gone issue is gone and when no testing is required before delivery. and when no testing is required before delivery.
Testing is time consuming, costly and a big hassle.”Testing is time consuming, costly and a big hassle.”
�� Time and other costs:Time and other costs:�� 57% spent three hours or less on activities to manage on57% spent three hours or less on activities to manage on--
farm farm TriffidTriffid issuesissues�� 17% spent three to eight17% spent three to eight�� 25% spent a day or more25% spent a day or more�� CarryCarry--over costs: ‘prefer not to answer’over costs: ‘prefer not to answer’�� CarryCarry--over costs: ‘prefer not to answer’over costs: ‘prefer not to answer’
1717
“I feel like whoever introduced “I feel like whoever introduced TriffidTriffid flax into the production systemflax into the production systemshould be responsible for compensating farmers for the cost &should be responsible for compensating farmers for the cost &
problems incurred in production and marketing.”problems incurred in production and marketing.”
“Growers did not cause this mess but have been told to clean it up!“Growers did not cause this mess but have been told to clean it up![Expletive] ridiculous!.”[Expletive] ridiculous!.”
Cost CategoryCost Category NotesNotes
Demurrage/quarantine $12,000,000 As of September 2010 (Ryan & Smyth 2011)
Testing costs $3,900,000 2009 to 2011 (Ryan & Smyth 2011)
Cost of segregation, other $13,185,217 2009 to 2011 (Dayananda 2011)Cost of segregation, othercosts for breeders, certified seed suppliers, producers, grain companies, AAFC & SaskFlax
$13,185,217 2009 to 2011 (Dayananda 2011)
Total Estimated Costs $29,085,217
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“Market access battles will continue… A low level presence (LLP) policy is needed… so that minute quantities of a GM crop can’t be a
barrier to trade…” Kevin Hursh, Dec/2011
1919
�� Costs difficult to quantifyCosts difficult to quantify�� Costs incurred on both sides of ‘the pond’ Costs incurred on both sides of ‘the pond’ –– EU and EU and
CanadaCanada�� Optimistically speaking…Optimistically speaking…
�� Flax prices have increased Flax prices have increased �� China bought up stocks during crisisChina bought up stocks during crisis�� China bought up stocks during crisisChina bought up stocks during crisis
�� Mind you…Mind you…�� Russia and the Ukraine have increased production / lost Russia and the Ukraine have increased production / lost
market share for Canadamarket share for Canada�� Canada still needs to test / costlyCanada still needs to test / costly
2020
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Thank you!Thank you!CamiCami RyanRyanDepartments of Plant Science & Departments of Plant Science & BioresourceBioresource Policy, Business and Policy, Business and EconomicsEconomicsUniversity of SaskatchewanUniversity of SaskatchewanTwitter me @Twitter me @DocCamiRyanDocCamiRyanTwitter me @Twitter me @DocCamiRyanDocCamiRyanBlog: http://doccami.posterous.com/Blog: http://doccami.posterous.com/
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Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements:Linda Braun, Linda Braun, SaskFlaxSaskFlaxWill Hill, Flax Council of CanadaWill Hill, Flax Council of CanadaGordon Rowland, Helen Booker, Eric Gordon Rowland, Helen Booker, Eric Lamb, Mike St. Louis, Stuart Smyth Lamb, Mike St. Louis, Stuart Smyth –– U U of Sof S