Senate Committee tables report on innovation in agriculture

Title

Abstract

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry released their latest report "Innovation in Agriculture: The Key to Feeding a Growing Population" and Senator Percy Mockler from New Brunswick remarked on the release of the 118 page report that Ottawa must create an environment that "enables research, development and innovation in the market and the exchange of information among stakeholders and promote public-private partnerships." The report makes a total of 19 recommendations and heard from 170 witnesses from the entire supply chain as well as representatives from provincial and federal departments and agencies as well as international organizations. They conducted fact-finding missions in Canada and United States. It recommended regulatory amendments to the Seeds Act to modernize the variety registration process, making changes to the Safety Assessment Process for Plants with Novel Traits and continue ongoing research on the efficacy of pesticides and their safety on humans, animals and the environment. They also suggest bringing The Plan Breeders' Rights Act (1990) up to the standards of the 1991 Act of the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants. They wanted the Canadian Intellectual Property Office review the patent application process and evaluate the impact of renewing or extending patent protection. They recommended harmonizing regulations with Canada's trading partners without compromising health and the environment and this become part of new trade agreements. They also recommended examining , encouraging and establishing funding to support the use of and research into commercialization of second- and third-generation biofuels.

Date

2014-06-25

Issue

6

Title	Senate Committee tables report on innovation in agriculture
Authors	A. Walker
Abstract	The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry released their latest report "Innovation in Agriculture: The Key to Feeding a Growing Population" and Senator Percy Mockler from New Brunswick remarked on the release of the 118 page report that Ottawa must create an environment that "enables research, development and innovation in the market and the exchange of information among stakeholders and promote public-private partnerships." The report makes a total of 19 recommendations and heard from 170 witnesses from the entire supply chain as well as representatives from provincial and federal departments and agencies as well as international organizations. They conducted fact-finding missions in Canada and United States. It recommended regulatory amendments to the Seeds Act to modernize the variety registration process, making changes to the Safety Assessment Process for Plants with Novel Traits and continue ongoing research on the efficacy of pesticides and their safety on humans, animals and the environment. They also suggest bringing The Plan Breeders' Rights Act (1990) up to the standards of the 1991 Act of the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants. They wanted the Canadian Intellectual Property Office review the patent application process and evaluate the impact of renewing or extending patent protection. They recommended harmonizing regulations with Canada's trading partners without compromising health and the environment and this become part of new trade agreements. They also recommended examining , encouraging and establishing funding to support the use of and research into commercialization of second- and third-generation biofuels.
Journal	Island farmer
Date	2014-06-25
Volume	41
Issue	6
ISSN	0823-7735