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Environmental impacts from herbicide tolerant canola production in Western Canada

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  • Smyth, Stuart J.
  • Gusta, Michael
  • Belcher, Kenneth
  • Phillips, Peter W.B.
  • Castle, David

Abstract

The commercial production of herbicide tolerant (HT) canola began in Western Canada in 1997. With more than a decade of use, the actual farm-level environmental impact of HT canola can be evaluated. This article reports on a spring 2007 survey of nearly 600 canola farmers in the three prairie provinces of Western Canada. Producers were asked about their crop production experiences for 2005 and 2006 and expected crop planting for 2007. A reduction in the total number of chemical applications over the 3-year period was reported, resulting in a decrease of herbicide active ingredient being applied to farmland in Western Canada of nearly 1.3 million kg annually. Fewer tillage passes over the survey period were reported, improving moisture conservation, decreasing soil erosion and contributing to carbon sequestration in annual cropland. An estimated 1 million tonnes of carbon is either sequestered or no longer released under land management facilitated by HT canola production, as compared to 1995. The value of this carbon off-set is estimated to be C$5 million. Comparisons with similar studies and against non-adoption of HT canola can guide future decisions about HT canola adoption.

Suggested Citation

  • Smyth, Stuart J. & Gusta, Michael & Belcher, Kenneth & Phillips, Peter W.B. & Castle, David, 2011. "Environmental impacts from herbicide tolerant canola production in Western Canada," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 104(5), pages 403-410, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agisys:v:104:y:2011:i:5:p:403-410
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    3. Tavella, Elena, 2016. "How to make Participatory Technology Assessment in agriculture more “participatory”: The case of genetically modified plants," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 119-126.
    4. Chelsea Sutherland & Savannah Gleim & Stuart J. Smyth, 2021. "Correlating Genetically Modified Crops, Glyphosate Use and Increased Carbon Sequestration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-15, October.
    5. Alessandro Bonanno & Valentina C. Materia & Thomas Venus & Justus Wesseler, 2017. "The Plant Protection Products (PPP) Sector in the European Union: A Special View on Herbicides," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 29(3), pages 575-595, July.
    6. L. Toma & A. P. Barnes & L.-A. Sutherland & S. Thomson & F. Burnett & K. Mathews, 2018. "Impact of information transfer on farmers’ uptake of innovative crop technologies: a structural equation model applied to survey data," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 43(4), pages 864-881, August.
    7. Stavroula Malla & Derek G. Brewin, 2020. "Biotechnology, Crop R&D and Public Policy: The Case of Canola," Athens Journal of Business & Economics, Athens Institute for Education and Research (ATINER), vol. 6(2), pages 99-110, April.
    8. Kai Purnhagen & Justus Wesseler, 2021. "EU Regulation of New Plant Breeding Technologies and Their Possible Economic Implications for the EU and Beyond," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 43(4), pages 1621-1637, December.

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