Posted: February 2, 2009

Don't call it GMO, says BASF. The Germany-based chemical company recently announced that it has successfully incorporated a new technology that produces traits such as herbicide resistance without the insertion of foreign DNA, in the process creating an alternative to genetically modified (GM) crops.

According to a news release, BASF has used Rapid Trait Development System (RTDS) technology to enhance the tolerance levels of spring canola plants to the company's Clearfield herbicides. Developed by U.S.-based plant trait development company Cibus, the RTDS is based on a principle of directed mutagenesis which produces plant traits similar to those produced through genetic modification by working through the cell's natural process of gene repair. BASF believes this approach will result in trait development that is quicker to market with less regulatory expense.

BASF anticipates commercializing the trait as early as 2013.

Posted: February 2, 2009

A series of workshops for Manitoba producers on how to use global positioning systems (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS) have been scheduled throughout the province in February and March.

The precision agriculture workshops, sponsored by Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) along with the federal government, are designed to deliver a course curriculum to train agricultural producers in the collection, processing and application of information available from precision farming equipment and software.

Workshops are scheduled for Feb. 6 and 19 in Carman, Feb. 10 and 20 in Steinbach, Feb. 13 and 17 in Dauphin, and March 2 and 6 in Brandon. See this MAFRI news release for more information.