Thanks for the piece out of the Western Producer reporting the discovery of multiple (novel) herbicide resistance canola (Brassica napus) volunteers (weeds). Of course this isn't a surprise for me in the least. Looking at the first three Decision Documents the Canadians published when the first three Plants with Novel Traits were approved (liberty link canola, roundup ready canola and pursuit tolerant canola), the the following "note" was clearly made in the text of each Decision Document. What is particularly interesting about this, and it reinforces the Canadian adoption of a "product based" regulatory approach, is that the Pursuit tolerant canola would not be subject to regulatory overview in any other country as it does not result from genetic engineering - it is the product of mutation breeding and somaclonal variation!

The other point is that these volunteer plants will also be tolerant to other herbicides, treflan for instance, that are normally used on canola. However, the use of a phenoxy herbicide as used in conventional cereal production will kill them in short order.

I am sure that the CFIA will already have alerted the Western Producer to these facts.

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http://www.cfia-acia.agr.ca/english/plant/pbo/dd9501e.html
Decision Document DD95-01:
Determination of Environmental Safety of Agrevo Canada Inc.'s Glufosinate Ammonium-Tolerant Canola
This Decision Document has been prepared to explain the regulatory decision reached under the guidelines Dir94-08 Assessment Criteria for Determining Environmental Safety of Plants with Novel Traits and its companion document Dir94-09 The Biology of Brassica napus L. (Canola/Rapeseed) , and the proposed guidelines Pro94-04 Guidelines for the Assessment of Plants with Novel Traits as Livestock Feed.

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NOTE: A longer term concern, if there is general adoption of several different crop and specific herbicide weed management systems, is the potential development of crop volunteers with a combination of novel resistances to different herbicides. This could result in the loss of the use of these herbicides and any of their potential benefits. Therefore, agricultural extension personnel, in both the private and public sectors, should promote careful management practices for growers who use these herbicide tolerant crops, to minimize the development of multiple resistance.

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http://www.cfia-acia.agr.ca/english/plant/pbo/dd9502e.html
Decision Document DD95-02:
Determination of Environmental Safety of Monsanto Canada Inc.'s Roundup®® Herbicide-Tolerant Brassica napus Canola Line GT73
This Decision Document has been prepared to explain the regulatory decision reached under the guideline Dir94-08 Assessment Criteria for Determining Environmental Safety of Plants with Novel Traits . This is in association with the companion document Dir94-09 The Biology of Brassica napus L. (Canola/Rapeseed) and the proposed guidelines Pro94-04 Guidelines for the Assessment of Plants with Novel Traits as Livestock Feed.

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NOTE: A longer term concern, if there is general adoption of several different crop and specific herbicide weed management systems, is the potential development of crop volunteers with a combination of novel resistances to different herbicides. This could result in the loss of the use of these herbicides and any of their potential benefits. Therefore, agricultural extension personnel, in both the private and public sectors, should promote careful management practices for growers who use these herbicide tolerant crops, to minimize the development of multiple resistance.

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http://www.cfia-acia.agr.ca/english/plant/pbo/dd9503e.html
Decision Document DD95-03:
Determination of Environmental Safety of Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc.'s Imidazolinone-Tolerant Canola
This Decision Document has been prepared to explain the regulatory decision reached under the guidelines Dir94-08 Assessment Criteria for Determining Environmental Safety of Plants with Novel Traits and its companion document Dir94-09 The Biology of Brassica napus L. (Canola/Rapeseed) , and the proposed guidelines Pro94-04 Guidelines for the Assessment of Plants with Novel Traits as Livestock Feed.

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NOTE: A longer term concern, if there is general adoption of several different crop and specific herbicide weed management systems, is the potential development of crop volunteers with a combination of novel resistances to different herbicides. This could result in the loss of the use of these herbicides and any of their potential benefits. Therefore, agricultural extension personnel, in both the private and public sectors, should promote careful management practices for growers who use these herbicide tolerant crops, to minimize the development of multiple resistance.

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