Assessing the Potential Impact of Roundup Ready® Alfalfa on the Canadian Forage Industry

The Saskatchewan Forage Council (SFC), in association with the Canadian Forage & Grassland Association (CFGA) has undertaken a project to conduct an unbiased, fact-based assessment of the potential impact of Roundup Ready® alfalfa (RRA) on Canada’s forage industry. As part of this project a forum was held in Saskatoon on December 15, 2011 following the CFGA Conference & Annual Meeting. The purpose of the forum was to present the interim report on the project and to solicit input from all industry stakeholders. As well, the forum served to meet the overall objective of the project to encourage dialogue related to genetically modified technologies within the forage industry.

Sixty-one people attended the forum. Dr. Doug Yungblut, the consultant retained to produce the report, presented a summary of his interim findings. He outlined the nature and scope of the Canadian forage industry and an initial assessment of the potential impact of RRA.

Any and all input to the project continues to be sought and is vital to the successful completion of the assessment.

Comments, for inclusion in the final report, will be accepted until February 15, 2012. Contact Doug Yungblut, Project Consultant, at doug.yungblut@sympatico.ca or 416 659-7765. More information about the project is also available by contacting the SFC at office@saskforage.ca or 306-867-8126.

The final report for this project will be available on the CFGA, SFC and other provincial forage council websites in April, 2012.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP). In Saskatchewan this program is delivered by the Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan.