Quick Facts:
- Without pesticides and biotech crops we’d need 44% more farmland in Canada to grow what we do today.
- Pest control products play an important role as farmers continue to work towards producing the safest and highest quality foods possible. For producers to do their jobs efficiently and effectively, they need a regulatory system that is science-based and a government that is willing to provide producers with the necessary tools.
The ability of farmers to have timely access to new products for use in pest management is extremely important for them to remain competitive in the global market. More resources should be directed at the registration of ‘minor use’ products to ensure producers of horticultural, vegetable, fruit and small acreage crops have access to the pest control tools they need.
Working Toward Solutions:
The CFA participates in both the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) Transformation Steering Committee and the Pest Management Advisory Council (PMAC), along with other stakeholders with the shared goal of improving the current regulatory system.
CFA participates in the GROU nomination committee.
CFA is also a member of the “Manage resistance now” platform that offers resources to farmers to manage pest resistance to products: About Us – Manage Resistance Now
Growers Own Use Program
The federal government’s Growers Own Use Program (GROU) allows growers to import the U.S. version of Canadian-registered crop protection products for their own use, based on recommendations from a product nomination committee. CFA is a member of this committee.
Read more on pesticides in the CFA Policy Manual