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Listen to excerpts from Grower Conference Calls
On February 1 and 2, SaskFlax hosted two conference calls with several industry spokespersons to describe the issues with Canadian flax in the European marketplace. More than 300 participated in the calls. Introductory remarks on both of the calls included comments from the following:
Linda Braun, Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission
Venkata Vakulabharanam, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Barry Hall, Flax Council of Canada
Quinton Stewart, Communications Chair - Flax Council of Canada
Leigh Marquess, Quantum Biosciences test lab
Dave Sefton, Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission
March 18 call
On March 18, SaskFlax hosted another conference call, again with several industry spokespersons to discuss guidelines for flax planting seed. More than 130 participated in this calls. Resource persons on this call included the following:
- Linda Braun, Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission
- Dave Sefton, Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission
- Barry Hall, Flax Council of Canada
- Terry James, representing Flax Council of Canada's industry committee
- Leigh Marquess, Quantum Biosciences test lab
- Colette Jako, SRC Genserve Laboratories
- Venkata Vakulabharanam, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
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Questions
Why was CDC Triffid developed?
CDC Triffid (FP967) was developed at the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre. It was intended as a crop that could be cultivated the year after a triasulfuron or metsulfuron-methyl herbicide was used, as an alternative to continuous cropping of wheat and barley and to summer-fallowing. It was approved for environmental release in 1996 by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and for food use by Health Canada in 1998. At no time has there ever been any safety concerns with this variety. It was deregistered in 2001 by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency due to trade concerns by the Canadian flax industry. Certified seed of CDC Triffid (FP967) in production at the time was collected and crushed domestically.
What is the genetic modification in CDC Triffid? Is it a Roundup-Ready variety?
CDC Triffid was a transgenic sulfonylurea herbicide-resistant flax cultivar with agronomic features similar to NorLin. It was intended to provide a broadleaf cropping option to summer fallowing or continuous cropping to cereals in soils previously treated with residual sulfonylurea herbicides (such as metsulfuron methyl – Ally and Triasulfuron – Amber, Unity), especially for those with low moisture and high pH where they persist in soil for several years. CDC Triffid was not a Roundup Ready variety and hence reacts similar to other conventional flax cultivars when treated with Glyphosate.
What is the test being used to detect CDC Triffid?
Labs are using a construct-specific test, which detects the presence of genetically-modified materials. The genetically-modified material found in CDC Triffid is not found in other plants, so this is an accurate method of identifying CDC Triffid in samples. The National Research Council’s Plant Biotechnology Institute (NRC/PBI) and DNA Landmarks Research continue to work on an event-specific test, which would identify the exact sequence for CDC Triffid.
How did Triffid get into the system after being de-registered in 2001? Wasn’t it supposed to have been destroyed?
We still don’t know how Triffid got into the system. Yes, it was supposed to have been destroyed. We’re still trying to determine what happened.
What, if anything, is being done to identify the exporters or growers who did not destroy their Triffid inventory in 2001? What will happen to them?
At the time, Triffid was a seed company licensed variety and was multiplied by Select seed growers. All growers are now being asked to have their seed tested. It is not illegal to grow Triffid, even though it is deregistered, but it cannot be sold for seed. The grain industry and growers will work together to direct those supplies to non-European markets (ie, markets that are not sensitive to genetically modified materials).
How long will growers need to continue testing their flaxseed for CDC Triffid?
This depends on how quickly the Canadian flax supply is cleared of Triffid. It could be between 1 and 5 years.
What will happen to any Triffid flax that is found?
Triffid seed will be identified, segregated and moved to markets that are not sensitive to genetically modified materials.
How do I take a representative sample?
See this link for the Canadian Grain Commission's guidelines on preparing representative samples.
More questions and answers will be posted as they are received.
For more information, contact:
Linda Braun, Executive Director
Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission
Saskatoon, SK
Tel. 306-664-1901
Email: saskflax@saskflax.com
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Introductory remarks - Call 1