Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
January 9, 2013
Monsanto Canada today introduced the future of high-yielding canola, unveiling the benefits of its new TruFlex(TM) Roundup Ready(R) canola to western Canadian farmers in Saskatoon.
TruFlex(TM) Roundup Ready(R) canola is Monsanto's new canola trait - the first novel biotech trait in canola to be introduced to western Canadian farmers since 1996. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada granted full food, feed and environmental safety approval to the new trait in June 2012 and Monsanto anticipates a commercial preview to farmers in 2014.
TruFlex(TM) Roundup Ready(R) canola will serve as the base platform on which all future Monsanto pipeline traits in canola will be stacked.
"Over the years, we've had plenty of opportunity to receive feedback from growers and they have consistently communicated the need to bring yield and agronomics to the next level over older canola trait technologies," said Jesse Hamonic, canola trait marketing lead with Monsanto Canada based in Winnipeg. "This became our mandate when we began developing TruFlex(TM) Roundup Ready(R) canola. We look forward to seeing this new canola trait deliver maximum yield potential for farmers."
Speaking to farmers and industry stakeholders at a VIP reception in Saskatoon as part of the Crop Production Show, Hamonic said Monsanto's goal with any new trait introduction is to bring a "step-change" to farmers. He's confident TruFlex(TM) Roundup Ready(R) canola will deliver on its commitment to deliver higher yields through a combination of enhanced weed control that provides more effective and consistent control of both annual weeds and tough-to-control perennial weeds, and through increased flexibility provided by a wider window of application at higher rates under more challenging weather conditions.
"Dandelions, foxtail barley and wild buckwheat are some examples of tough-to-control perennial and annual weeds that will have improved control with the new TruFlex(TM) Roundup Ready(R) canola system," said David Kelner, Monsanto's canola technical lead for Western Canada. "As well, the increased application rate allows for control of a much wider spectrum of weeds, with the ability to now control new weeds such as yellow foxtail, biennial wormwood and common milkweed."
TruFlex(TM) Roundup Ready(R) canola will also enable farmers to apply Roundup WeatherMAX in-crop at a rate of 1.33 litres/acre for a single application or 0.67 litres/acre for two applications. This is well over double the rate of application with the existing Genuity Roundup Ready canola system - all with improved crop safety. And with the added benefit of a wider window of application that extends past the six leaf stage all the way to the first flower (or approximately 10 to 14 days longer than current commercial technologies), farmers will have more flexibility to manage their in-crop applications.
"We think the increased flexibility provided by the wider window of application is really going to appeal to farmers," said Hamonic. "Farmers are increasingly pressed for time and TruFlex(TM) Roundup Ready(R) canola will give them almost two weeks more time to spray without causing harm to the crop. It essentially helps them manage their acres more effectively and deal with those stressful weather conditions that result in late spraying that can negatively impact yield."
Monsanto Canada supports and adheres to the Canola Council of Canada's Market Access Policy where appropriate regulatory approvals in Canada and six export markets are required before commercial introduction. Monsanto has submitted regulatory applications to each of these six countries, with regulatory approvals already secured in Canada and food safety approvals granted in the U.S.
Plans are in the works to show farmers the performance of new TruFlex(TM) Roundup Ready(R) canola in stewarded demonstration trials starting this summer, leading to an anticipated commercial preview in 2014. Additional communication to farmers, as well as a more extensive field trial program, including the testing of the new trait in broadly-adapted germplasm, will continue throughout 2014 with the goal of providing the new TruFlex(TM) Roundup Ready(R) canola across a broader acreage in 2015, pending all necessary export market approvals.
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