The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, storing food crop seeds from around the world in man-made caves on a remote Norwegian Arctic island will receive more than 14,000 new samples on Tuesday, a custodian of the facility said.
Arctic doomsday seed vault gets more than 14,000 new samples
Russia extends quota on ‘unfriendly’ country seed imports, Interfax reports
Russia on Monday extended quotas on the import of certain types of seed from countries designated as "unfriendly", the Interfax news agency reported, citing the Russian government's press service.
American company growing larger roots through gene editing
Cquesta plans to decrease drought risk, increase carbon sequestration
Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – An American company is gene editing roots to make them grow larger so plants can better tolerate drought and sequester more carbon. Cquesta CEO Michael Ott told the Agri Tech Venture Forum in Ontario earlier this spring that half the human impact on carbon released to the atmosphere can be accounted for […] Read more
Survey offers farmers opportunity to guide seed sector
Online survey next step in debate over who should control what under seed regulations, and how that will affect farmers
Reading Time: 6 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – As farmers enter one of their busiest times, they’re being asked to help shape Canada’s future seed regulations via online survey. The survey (found at the Government of Canada website) closes May 1 and is part of the seed regulatory modernization (SRM) process launched in September 2020 by the Canadian Food Inspection […] Read more
China approves seed firms for GMO corn and soybeans
The world's biggest buyer of soybeans and corn wants to reduce its reliance on imports
China has approved a first batch of seed companies to breed and sell genetically modified corn and soybean seeds, paving the way for commercial planting of GMO grains in a move that could cut its reliance on imports from the U.S. and Brazil.
Seed regulation consultation results released
CFIA 'anticipates' more consultations this winter
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is getting closer to updating its seed regulations. On Monday, the agency released a “What We Heard” report summarizing the responses of 315 individuals and groups who participated in an online survey from Feb. 15 to May 1. The CFIA is looking to update seed regulations to “reduce complexity, protect […] Read more
A seed show more than a century in the making
Two dozen classes of seeds on display at North American Seed Fair
Reading Time: 2 minutes It’s the new and shiny equipment that gets the lion’s share of attention, but the other part of the Ag-Expo and North American Seed Fair is worth a look, too. This year’s edition of the seed fair is the 126th, making it one of the oldest such fairs in Western Canada. “It’s the oldest ribboning […] Read more
CropLife not driving CFIA policy, agency says
NFU calls for CFIA head's ouster over 'indication of improper collaboration'
The National Farmers Union and a clutch of other organizations have asked Canada’s federal ag minister to replace the president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, citing questions about the provenance of regulatory proposals on gene-edited seed. CFIA officials, however, reject the NFU’s allegation that the metadata attached to the proposal document in question may […] Read more
In one giant leap for Earth plants, seeds are grown in moon soil
Washington | Reuters — Scientists for the first time have grown seeds in soil from the moon — samples retrieved during NASA missions in 1969 and 1972 — in an achievement that heralds the promise of using earthly plants to support human outposts on other worlds. Researchers said on Thursday they planted seeds of a […] Read more
Mildew scrapped as grading factor for No. 3 wheats
Grading changes also planned for canola admixture, splits in peas, excreta in mustard
The Canadian Grain Commission will change its standard samples for mildew in No. 1 and No. 2 wheats, and drop it as a grading factor for No. 3 wheats, effective this summer. The CGC on Monday laid out a list of changes to its grain grading policies and standards for wheat, canola, peas, beans and […] Read more
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