| Transgenic/Genetic Engineered (GE)/Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) |
A transgenic plant contains genetic material artificially acquired from another organism by the technique of genetic modification or engineering. Codex Alimentarius sets international food standards under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Their current definition states “genetically engineered/genetically modified organism means an organism in which the genetic material has been changed through gene technology in a way that does not occur naturally by multiplication and/or natural recombination”. Examples of these techniques used in gene technology include: recombinant DNA techniques that use vector systems; techniques involving the direct introduction into the organism or hereditary materials prepared outside the organism; and cell fusion or hybridization techniques that overcome natural barriers. |
| Herbicide Tolerant (HT) Varieties/Systems |
Plants that have been developed to be resistant to specific herbicides. There are five systems in canola which are considered to be herbicide tolerant: triazine tolerant (resistant to the herbicides such as atrazine); Roundup Ready (resistant to the herbicide glyphosate/Roundup); Liberty Link (resistant to the herbicide Liberty); SMART or Clearfield (resistant to Odyssey and Pursuit herbicides); and, Navigator (resistant to the herbicide Compas). |
| Transgenic Canola |
In canola there are five groups of varieties that are considered transgenic, or genetically engineered. They are: Roundup Ready (resistant to the herbicide glyphosate/Roundup); Liberty Link (resistant to the herbicide Liberty); InVigor hybrids (special hybridization system); high laurate canola (Calgene development); and the recently introduced Navigator (resistant to the herbicide Compas). For the purposes of this study, the transgenic varieties examined were Roundup Ready, Liberty Link, and InVigor hybrids (which are also Liberty tolerant). Navigator and high laurate varieties were used on a very small acreage in 2000. |
| SMART Trait Canola |
The SMART system (now called Clearfield) is resistant to Pursuit and Odyssey herbicides and was developed through a process called mutagenesis. These SMART herbicide tolerant varieties are not considered transgenic by the international community, but are considered as plants with novel traits under the Canadian regulatory system. |
| Conventional Canola |
Conventional varieties are not transgenic nor one of the herbicide tolerant systems and have been developed through traditional breeding methods like cross-pollination and back-crossing. |
| Plants with Novel Traits (PNT) |
Plants with unusual traits such as herbicide resistance are regulated in Canada on the basis of the novelty of the trait and not the method used to introduce the traits. Plants with novel traits may be produced by conventional breeding, mutagenesis or recombinant DNA technology. |
| Integrated Pest Management |
A sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, genetic, agronomic and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health and environmental risks while maximizing economic returns. |
| Conservation Tillage |
Any tillage and planting system that leaves at least 30% of the soil surface covered by residue after planting. Conservation tillage maintains a ground cover with less soil disturbance than traditional cultivation, thereby reducing soil loss and energy use while maintaining crop yields and quality. Conservation tillage techniques include minimum tillage, mulch tillage, ridge tillage, and no-till. |
| Minimum Tillage |
A soil conservation system where the number of tillage passes is limited or reduced compared to conventional systems. |
| No-Till or Zero-Till |
A method of planting crops that involves no seed bed preparation and opening the soil just enough to place seeds with minimal disturbance of the residue cover; there is usually no cultivation during crop production; and chemical weed control is normally used. |
| Direct Economic Impact |
The net change in gross margin per acre related to the changes in direct costs, and/or revenue due to the production and marketing of canola.
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| Aggregate Economic Impact |
The impact on the gross margin per acre due to the production and marketing of transgenic canola, aggregated over the total number of acres harvested using the transgenic production system. |
| Opportunity Cost |
The direct impact of transgenic canola per acre, aggregated over the total number of acres which were not seeded to transgenic canola, or over the number of conventional canola acres.
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| Secondary/Induced Economic Impact |
The additional impact due to the change in the direct economic impact on a community or region. |