Triffid Flax: the rise, fall (and resurrection) of a genetically engineered crop
•Download as PPTX, PDF•
3 likes•868 views
Want to know a bit about the Triffid Flax story? This was a presentation I gave at the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists meeting in 2010.
Recommended
More Related Content
Similar to Triffid Flax: the rise, fall (and resurrection) of a genetically engineered crop
Similar to Triffid Flax: the rise, fall (and resurrection) of a genetically engineered crop (20)
Triffid Flax: the rise, fall (and resurrection) of a genetically engineered crop
- 1. ~ Cami Ryan, B.Comm., Ph.D. ~ Bioresource Policy, Business and Economics Total Utilization of Flax Genomics (TUFGEN) University of Saskatchewan March 15, 2010 Matters of Flax:The ongoing 'Triffid' Story
- 2. Total Utilization of Flax Genomics Funded by Genome Canada ($CDN12 Million) Leads: G. Rowland (CDC, U of S), S. Coultier (AAFC) Enhance flax’s usefulness through rigorous genomics research Assist flax breeding and varietal improvement 2
- 3. Canada’s Flax Industry: an overview Triffid’s Regulatory Timeline from Development to Deregistration (1988 – 2001) Triffid: The Return 2009 to present Canada-EU Protocol Domestic Stewardship Program Testing / results Costs Where are we at now? Exports to date Changes… Protocol / Stewardship Program Outline 3
- 4. Uncle Jacob Grandma’s kitchen table Circa 1971 "That %($*%& flax straw is a %($*%&pain in the @$$!"
- 5. Plant with novel traits (PNT) Developed in 1988 by Al McHughen (Crop Development Centre / U of S) Value of Triffid was primarily environmental Tolerance to soil residues of sulfonylurea-based herbicides Cultivated the year after herbicide was used in fields Alternative to continuous cropping of wheat/barley and to summer-fallowing Triffid (FP 967) 5
- 6. Plant with novel traits (PNT) Developed in 1988 by Al McHughen (Crop Development Centre / U of S) Value of Triffid was primarily environmental Tolerance to soil residues of sulfonylurea-based herbicides Cultivated the year after herbicide was used in fields Alternative to continuous cropping of wheat/barley and to summer-fallowing Triffid (FP 967) 6
- 7. Global Flax Production(000's MT) Canada China US India Source: FAO Stats 7
- 8. 8 Canadian Flax Production (000's MT) Source: FAO Stats
- 9. Top Export Destinations for Canadian Flax (000’s MT) Adapted from Canadian Flax in Europe: Grower Information Sheet (SaskFlax) 9
- 10. Domestic Production of Flax (000's MT) Source: Flax Council of Canada 10
- 11. 1988 – CDC Triffid created 1989 – start of field trials (to 1994) 1994 – registration process begins 1994 – marketing rights obtained by Value Added Seeds 1996 – approved for livestock feed use in Canada 1996/97 – EU importers raise concerns over commercialization of Triffid Triffid Timeline: from Development to Deregistration 11
- 12. 12
- 13. Triffid Seed Production Image source: Pandora’s Picnic Basket (McHughen) (2000) 13
- 14. C. D. Ryan, University of Saskatchewan M. St. Louis, University of Saskatchewan 1997 Data for maps provided by: Canadian Seed Growers Association 14
- 15. 1997 (May) – stakeholders convene to discuss stewardship 1998 (Jan) – SK stakeholders convene to discuss production bans / deregistration 1998 – approved for food use in Canada 1998 – approved for food and feed in US 1998 – Triffid to be contained on farm / no further production Triffid Timeline: from Development to Deregistration 15
- 16. C. D. Ryan, University of Saskatchewan M. St. Louis, University of Saskatchewan 1998 Data for maps provided by: Canadian Seed Growers Association 16
- 17. C. D. Ryan, University of Saskatchewan M. St. Louis, University of Saskatchewan 1999 Data for maps provided by: Canadian Seed Growers Association 17
- 18. 2000 – recall and crush organized 2001 – CDC Triffid transported / crushed 2001 – CDC Triffid Flax deregistered Triffid Timeline: from Development to Deregistration 18
- 19. CDC Triffid Production (# acres) 19
- 20. 20
- 21. 21
- 22. 22
- 23. enables the quick and effective exchange of information between Member States and the Commission Information exchange WRT to food or feed Facilitates rapid and coordinated action of Member States What is the RASFF? 23
- 24. Searching the portal… 24
- 25. Searching the portal… Notifying country 25
- 26. RASFF Notifications – notifying country September 2009 – February 2010 (n=100 ) 26
- 27. September 10/09 – Western Producer 27
- 28. September 10/09 – Manitoba Farmer 28
- 29. 29
- 30. 30
- 31. September 17/09 – Western Producer 31
- 32. September 17/09 – Western Producer 32
- 33. September 17/09 – Western Producer 33
- 34. 34
- 35. September 30/09 – StarPhoenix 35
- 36. October 29/09 – Globe & Mail 36
- 37. RASFF search results… 45 Countries 17 Countries 92% Food Products 37
- 38. RASFF Notifications Network By Country of Origin Austria Belgium Swiss Israel Canada Poland Denmark France US Germany UK Netherlands Italy RASFF Food Notification RASFF Feed Notification RussFed Country of Origin China Sweden n = 100 notifications Turkey 38
- 39. World Production of Flax 2000 - 2008 >5M Tonnes 100K-999K Tonnes 1-5M Tonnes <100K Tonnes 39
- 40. World Production of Flax 2000 - 2008 Countries of Origin of FP967 (according to RASFF notifications) >5M Tonnes 100K-999K Tonnes 1-5M Tonnes <100K Tonnes 40
- 41. World Production of Flax 2000 - 2008 ? ? ? ? ? Other potential sources? (based upon imports into EU 2000 – 2008) >5M Tonnes 100K-999K Tonnes 1-5M Tonnes <100K Tonnes 41
- 42. Flax Prices(January 2-December 15, 2009) Adapted from: SaskFlax 42
- 43. Flax Prices(January 2-December 15, 2009) Adapted from: SaskFlax 43
- 44. Flax Prices(January 2-December 15, 2009) Adapted from: SaskFlax 44
- 45. Flax Prices(January 2-December 15, 2009) Adapted from: SaskFlax 45
- 46. Canada / EU Protocol established – October 2009 Canadian Government, FCC, flax exporters and DG Sanco of the EC Outlines system of sampling (one sample for every 5K bushels) Testing (at 0.01% levels) Documentation …and more documentation…. Canada-EU Protocol 46
- 47. Canada / EU Protocol established – October 2009 Canadian Government, FCC, flax exporters and DG Sanco of the EC Outlines system of sampling (one sample for every 5K bushels) Testing (at 0.01% levels) Documentation …and more documentation…. Canada-EU Protocol 47 The hope is to meet strict EU import requirements and allow for secure/predictable flaxseed supply!
- 48. November 5/09 – Western Producer 48
- 49. ‘construct specific’ test now used to identify GMO markers in flax (@ 0.01% = 1 in 10,000 seeds) As of January 11, 2010… Only 20% of producers had submitted samples Levels of positive results in supply chain: Producer/elevator: 3 – 5% Railcar: 10 – 15% Vessel holds: 7% CDC Parental lines tested positive: Mons (released in 2002) Normandy (released in 1995) Testing & results to date… 49
- 50. 0.01% represents one seed in 10,000 This represents trace levels of GM content… 50
- 51. 3234 Producer Samples Tested As of February 18, 2010 Source: Barry Hall, Flax Council of Canada 51
- 52. Test Results… (>=0.01%) 3.2% Source: Barry Hall, Flax Council of Canada 52
- 53. Test Results… (<=0.01%) 6.3% Source: Barry Hall, Flax Council of Canada 53
- 54. Demurrage/holding costs 30K$ per day 1M$ per month Estimated 7M$ costs as of February 2010 Loss of sales costs Testing (all along the value chain) 105$/sample (producers) $195/sample (grain companies) 700$+ if you want to put a rush on it Downstream costs EU feed and industrial market (shortages) Summary of Costs 54
- 55. February 18/10 – Western Producer 55
- 56. 56
- 57. Changes to the Stewardship Program 57
- 58. Changes to the Stewardship Program 58
- 59. Canadian Flax Export Volumes 2008/09 (000’s Tonnes) 2009/10 (000’s Tonnes) Data compiled from: Grain Statistics Weekly - CGC 59
- 60. Flax Exports 12% 30% 30% 36% 60
- 61. CDN Flax Export Revenues 2009/10 2008/09 Data compiled from: Grain Statistics Weekly - CGC 61
- 62. 62
- 63. 63
- 64. 64
- 68. Thank you! Cami Ryan 306-966-2929 cami.ryan@usask.ca Blog: http://cami.posterous.com/ Twitter me @CamilleDRyan Acknowledgements: Dale Adolphe, CSGA Linda Braun, SaskFlax Barry Hall, Flax Council of Canada Erwin Hanley, SaskFlax Dr. Bill Kerr, U of S Dr. Gordon Rowland, U of S Dr. Stuart Smyth, U of S Alvin Ulrich, Biolin Research Inc. 66
Editor's Notes
- Thank you to Ken Sapsford / check out structure of SIAThere's more to the truth than just the facts. ~Author UnknownAtticus told me to delete the adjectives and I'd have the facts. ~Harper Lee, To Kill a MockingbirdThe truth is more important than the facts. ~Frank Lloyd Wright
- TownieMy mother’s father settled in SK in the early part of the century and farmed with his sons west of Prince Albert for many, many years.
- I was introduced to the magic of flax at a very early age.
- Intended as a crop to be cultivated the year after a triasulfuron or metsulfuron-methyl herbicide was used (commercially known as Glean)
- Intended as a crop to be cultivated the year after a triasulfuron or metsulfuron-methyl herbicide was used (commercially known as Glean)
- Data from 1961 / other that a couple of intervals 60s / 70s, Canada lead the world in global production of flax/linseedCanada has and continues to be a global leader in flax productionCanadian production occurs in AB, SK and MB40% share of the world market80% share of the export market in flax70% of Canadian production is exported to the EU market
- On average, 96% of the total exports to EU 27 go through Belgium between 2004 and 2008. used, in large part, for non-food applications including paints, coatings, timber protection products, inks, soaps, detergents and linoleumMost flax imported from Canada is crushed in Belgium and Germany to produce linseed oil.According to Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, only 5% is sold into the food industry for human consumption. Crushers in the EU import whole flax, then extract the oil and, in turn, sell it to manufacturers of industrial goods that include many products like lubricants, detergents and soaps, cosmetics and coatings. The remnants of the oil extraction process provides a secondary market to agricultural producers where it is used for nutritious livestock feed (it is sold as lincake, expeller or meal). The expeller commands a premium price from producers who tout benefits such as better animal health, better quality meat and higher milk production from their dairy cows (Flax Council of Canada 2007). Linseed oil is used to make linoleum flooring and, additionally, the oil gives many exterior oil-based paints and stains their protective and drying qualities (Flax Council of Canada 2007).
- Problems with trade with the EU hits home pretty hard…In SK, producers on average grown 1.3 million acres of flax each year (3.8% of all seeded acreage in SK)On average SK produces 78% of the total national cropIn 2008, flax exports were worth almost 702 million
- As of January 2004, 22 GM organism (GMO) applications were awaiting EU authorization, several since 1996 or 1997. The EU said that prior to the moratorium, it had approved 18 GMOs for deliberate release into t The EU has been in regulatory deadlock since June 1999, when Denmark, Italy, and Luxembourg, led by France and Greece, joined together to block GMO approvals until the 90/220 directive (covering the release of GMOs into the environment) was revised to provide a stricter legal framework covering not only safety, but also labeling and traceability.he environment: some for cultivation, and some for import and processing, feed, and/or food.
- #acres?
- 1998 / EU moratorium on GM crops and foods /January 1998 / decision for voluntary withdrawal / no due diligence / follow-upDelays from decision to crush - takes time / crusher to find market for by product / preparation of cleaning equipment / growers didn’t have the capacity to segregate seedNo more split approvals in Canada…
- End of story… all known supplies of Triffid were destroyed / Triffid was never commercially produced
- 1998 / EU moratorium on GM crops and foods /January 1998 / decision for voluntary withdrawal / no due diligence / follow-upDelays from decision to crush - takes time / crusher to find market for by product / preparation of cleaning equipment / growers didn’t have the capacity to segregate seedNo more split approvals in Canada…
- TOTAL # acresReturn to seeded acreage of Triffid… 1997 to 1999….2001: seed transported and crushedCrusher: CanAmera Foods crushing plant in MB was contracted / seed stock held by the CDC was incinerated.5,000 tonnes of breeders seed was valued at 3.2MWe thought that this was the ‘final frontier’ / the system worked… pressures from export markets and domestic producers production was halted and Triffid never was commercially grown… problem solved, right?
- 2009 (July) – NPTII marker identified in cargo in EU indicating a GM event
- 2009 (Sept 8) – FP967 reported in EU through RASFF notifications
- 2009 (Sept 8) – FP967 reported in EU through RASFF notifications
- A curious bit out of this… it was reported by the AAFC in 2002 that all but 5% of CDN flax is exported for industrial purposes (lineleum, paints, etc) … however, these notifications suggest that CDN flax is dominant within the food supply chain. This a chart that outlines notifications by the country that filed the notification with the RASFF. Germany was a dominant player in this – lots of NGO capacity there that probably spearheaded efforts to find Triffid… (in fact, the scientific lab that originally tested for the GM event in flax is headquartered in Germany)As of November 2, Germany, Austria and Luxembourg (in that order) were the top notifiers… this rapidly changed over the next few weeks as Finland took intiative to test in their jurisdiction.
- N = 17 countries identified as origin of contaminated productSamples – they are not testing everything / this is not all inclusive / samples of reports / can’t test every shipment / randomWhere is a clean source? Belgium / NL / Germany probably all come from CDN sourcesIsrael / intermediary / import flaxseed from Canada…
- Map of producers>5 million tonnes1 - 5 million tonnes100K - 999K tonnes<100K
- Map of producers>5 million tonnes1 - 5 million tonnes100K - 999K tonnes<100K Russian Federation is no longer a ‘clean’ supply of flax…. Also, supplies from China have been identified as having a precense of Triffid… quizzed Barry about Protocols with these countries… is unaware of any other protocols in place with other countries….CHECK EXPORTS TO RUSS FED / IMPORTS INTO RUSS FED ON UNCOMTRADETrade flow map -
- Map of producers>5 million tonnes1 - 5 million tonnes100K - 999K tonnes<100K Russian Federation is no longer a ‘clean’ supply of flax…. Also, supplies from China have been identified as having a precense of Triffid… quizzed Barry about Protocols with these countries… is unaware of any other protocols in place with other countries….CHECK EXPORTS TO RUSS FED / IMPORTS INTO RUSS FED ON UNCOMTRADETrade flow map -
- Average price of flax up mid July 2009 was 11.10.
- Average price of flax up to Sept 9/2009 was 10.87. It dropped to an average $7.91 for the following 6 weeks.
- We see a rise in prices upon the establishment of the Canada-EU protocol in October… wherein flax prices average out at 9.03/bushel from October 19th to the end of the year. Brazil has ordered the mandatory testing of all flax shipmentsentering Brazil from Canada as of late December
- Protocol developed by the Canadian Government in consultation with the Flax Council of Canada, Canadian flax exporters and DG Sanco of the European Commission – October 2009). The Protocol describes the system of sampling, testing and documentation pertaining to the presence of CDC Triffid in shipments of Canadian flaxseed to the European Union. Samples are taken from each producer and retained for 6 months; each railcar will be sampled and composite samples from up to 5 railcars prepared. Any samples testing positive will be diverted from the EU and traced back to the source.
- Protocol developed by the Canadian Government in consultation with the Flax Council of Canada, Canadian flax exporters and DG Sanco of the European Commission – October 2009). The Protocol describes the system of sampling, testing and documentation pertaining to the presence of CDC Triffid in shipments of Canadian flaxseed to the European Union. Samples are taken from each producer and retained for 6 months; each railcar will be sampled and composite samples from up to 5 railcars prepared. Any samples testing positive will be diverted from the EU and traced back to the source.
- FCC’s Barry Hall warns us that the establishment of a protocol does not necessarily mean that trade will resume quickly.
- Low levels, system wide…. FCC commissioned NRC PBI to develop a more definitive test and the government of Canada has ear marked some money in its recent investment in flax to further the development process alongFP Genetics / ? To remove two varieties from market$$$$ testing costs
- Shortages of feed / raw material in the EU livestock and industrial supply chains
- FCC producersamplesdatabase3234 as of 02/18/10
- To date, 203 producersamples have tested positive below 0.01? Show lowlevelwidespreadpresenceFebruary 18, 2010Speculative cause: Pedigreed Seed of two flax varieties – CDC Normandy and CDC Mons - tested positive to Triffid at 0.01% level of detection
- Last year 200,000 tonnes of conventional animal feed - mainly soy and maize - were refused entry to the EU when they were found to contain small amounts of GM maize varieties. Strict laws designed to keep the European Union free of unauthorised GM crops and products are not working, and are posing problems for the EU's €150 billion livestock industry, according to farmers' representatives. They say that supplies of animal feed for poultry and pigs are being refused entry at European ports when found to contain even trace amounts of unauthorised GM material.Testing costs: in excess of 500K and that’s just what’s reported from one laboratory (there are a handful of other ISO certified labs that provide this serviceResults / little more than 3% of samples to date test at or above ???? (leigh)
- What are we doing here in Canada? More investment… in particular with funds targeted to the development of a Triffid DNA map in order to better detect GM material.
- Varieties are to be reconstituted Grown in phytotron . If clean, harvested and sent to NZ to be grown for 2010/2011 winter season returnd to canada to be planted for spring 2011Planted on land that hasn’t seen flax in several years and seeded and harvested with cleaned equipment Short term -= CDC SOP have changed / need to ensure that we are rid of Triffid in the linesRange of detection 1 or 2 seeds/millionExplains why we have witnessed situations where samples have been tested negative throughout the value chain but at the vessel tests ositiveCDC with breeder seed sampled 11 times (with 4 sub samples of 60 grams each) have tested negativeThen taken another 10 samples (with 4 sub samples of 60 grams each) where a couple have tested positive¾ of CDN flax comes from farm saved seed – switching costsUncertainty & Distrust?How can the seed system which appears to be the source of the contamination be offered up as a solution?Flax grown in the 2010 growing season to be certified seed only….75% of flax gSwitching CostsIndustry movement towards ‘certified seeds’Loss of autonomy (no more brown bagging)No agreement on switching costs:Kuhlman (SaskFlax): $15 MillionAdolphe (CSGA): $3.5 MillionDistrust in certified seed systemrown in Canada is grown from farm saved seed
- Varieties are to be reconstituted Grown in phytotron . If clean, harvested and sent to NZ to be grown for 2010/2011 winter season returnd to canada to be planted for spring 2011Planted on land that hasn’t seen flax in several years and seeded and harvested with cleaned equipment Short term -= CDC SOP have changed / need to ensure that we are rid of Triffid in the linesRange of detection 1 or 2 seeds/millionExplains why we have witnessed situations where samples have been tested negative throughout the value chain but at the vessel tests ositiveCDC with breeder seed sampled 11 times (with 4 sub samples of 60 grams each) have tested negativeThen taken another 10 samples (with 4 sub samples of 60 grams each) where a couple have tested positive
- 2008/09 seasonvs 09/10 seasonLarry Webber 930K MT would be produced this yearExports expect to drop to 450K from 600K this year3 yr average was 280K mt to EU / as of Dec 89 MT had been shipped to EU – 32% of 3 yr averageCheck these #s260 MT to EU200 MT to China200 MT to US300 MT carryout
- Based upon CGC #s (2008/09 and 2009/2010)12% decrease in exports (tonnes)30% decrease in average price36% decrease in overall value of exportsFLAXSEED (excluding solin)For 2009-10, exports are forecast to dropsharply due to lower demand from the EU.As a result, carry-out stocks are projected torise to record levels. The average price isforecast to fall by almost 30% as a result ofweak demand and large stocks.For 2010-11, seeded area is expected todrop sharply due to lower prices, largestocks and uncertainty of markets.Production is forecast to decline by 33%.Exports are forecast to recover, assumingthat exports to the EU increase. Carry-outstocks are expected to fall significantly.Prices are forecast to increase due todeclining stocks and increased demand.
- The real elephant in the room is the EU’s zero tolerance policy…
- Food market crisis has been on the EU table for some time…. Several groups advocating for LLP thresholds for GM events
- Even though it has now been cleared, individual countries still have the right to decide whether it should be grown on their territory.The potato is expected to be planted in the Czech Republic and Germany this spring, and Sweden and the Netherlands in following years.The only other GM product currently grown commercially in the EU is Monsanto's MON bt 810 maize, which was cleared back in 1998.It is grown in five countries - Spain, the Czech Republic, Romania, Portugal and Slovakia.