Science

Selling into sustainability supply chains

Customers are asking for sustainably-produced food, so some food companies are sourcing some ingredients from producers who follow sustainable production practices.

Science

Strong genetics key to sustainability

Genetics will drive a large share of the yield gains needed to get to 52 bu./ac. Genetic traits also reduce pesticide use, increase crop tolerance to disease and improve harvest management – all enhancing the sustainability of canola.

Science

Herbicide-tolerant canola lowers herbicide use, tillage

One of the greatest challenges in growing canola is competition from weeds. As Brookes and Barfoot reported in 2017, herbicide-tolerant canola varieties have allowed farmers in Canada to reduce the amount of herbicide they use by 20 per cent since 1996.

Science

Canola rotations and sustainability

Key result: A nine-year AAFC study compares canola in continuous, two-year and three-year rotations and finds that continuous canola costs more and yields less than canola in rotation with other crops. Whole-rotation revenue is similar, but continuous canola is the less sustainable option. Project title, Principal investigators: “Canola Sustainability – Risk Mitigation,” Neil Harker (retired)...

Science

Canola works well in canola-wheat-corn-soybean rotation

Key result: This Eastern Canada study tested canola in typical Eastern Canada crop rotation systems and found that canola performed well after soybeans and wheat produced its best yields following canola. Project title, Principal investigator: “Canola Rotation Studies,” Claude Caldwell, Dalhousie University Funding: Growing Forward 2 Crop rotation is recognized as one of the best...