6 It’s Farming. And It’s Better. Better Farming | August 2024 Beyond the Barn HORTICULTURE RESEARCH FACILITY RECEIVES FUNDING A crop research facility in Northern Ontario will receive funding for enhancements to improve their labs. The Superior Plant Upgrading and Distribution (SPUD) Unit in New Liskeard will receive $330,000 in funding from the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) program offered by the Canadian and Ontario governments. “Commercial growers across Ontario are on the cutting edge of innovation, bringing greater crop diversity to the province’s agriculture sector,” said Lawrence MacAulay, federal minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, in a recent release from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “This investment will help growers access top-quality crops and crop research so they can reach current markets and create new opportunities.” The SPUD Unit, which is operated by the University of Guelph, specializes in testing for plant diseases and the provision of healthy stock plants to commercial horticulture farmers across Ontario. The upgrades to the facility will improve irrigation, air filtration, heating systems, environmental controls, and the sterilization capacity of the unit. Its research on plant diseases and pests has implications for potato, berry, garlic, sweet potato and hazelnut growers. The unit produces 10 per cent of the mini-tubers needed for seed potato production in Ontario and is a primary source of garlic seed for Ontario growers. “The SPUD Unit is a critical piece of infrastructure, supporting the clean seed and propagation needs of several significant edible horticulture crops in Ontario,” said Shawn Brenn, chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. “This investment is crucial to the continuity of the SPUD Unit as we collaborate with government on its future success.” BF A recent study has found that people who are more educated about gene editing are more likely to feel it is safe to use in agriculture and medicine. Gene editing has been used in agriculture to develop new varieties and improve crop resilience to drought and disease. The research involved a survey of 4,500 people across the U.S. and was led by Brandon McFadden, Tyson endowed chair in Food Policy Economics for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, along with Kathryn Stofer and Kevin Folta from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, and Joy Rumble, from The Ohio State University. “People who have heard or read a lot about gene editing generally have a favourable opinion about using it for agricultural or medical purposes,” McFadden said in a recent release from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “So, people who are less familiar with gene editing are likelier to think it is unsafe.” The study also found that people with less knowledge of gene editing need more information, up to 100 studies or 20 years, to view it as safe. The survey found that 10 per cent of respondents would not improve their opinion on gene editing even if provided with research. The researchers believe that proactive public conversation may have avoided the damaging image surrounding genetically modified organisms and gene editing. “The study sets us up to test explicit messages about the number of studies or years of research on this technology that might help alleviate concerns about safety and support the benefits,” said Stofer. Folta added, “We used to think that providing more evidence didn’t change opinions, but this work shows maybe we can change public perception if we effectively share the good things we can do with gene editing.” The results of the study are published in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. BF - Emily Croft EDUCATION IMPROVES GMO OPINIONS Leslie Stewart photo CROP
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