b"INTERNATIONAL NEWSGLOBAL SEED WATCHCANADA INVESTS IN CANOLA RESEARCH AND NEW GENE EDITING LEGISLATION IN THE UK STATUS CANADA STATUS CHINAThe Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission (SaskCanola)ADAMA Ltd. reported that it has commenced operations at its new has committed $1.14 million to 10 research projects funded undermanufacturing site in Jingzhou, Hubei Province, following a com-the Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) in 2021. prehensive three-year relocation and upgrade process, bringing SaskCanola is partnering with the Saskatchewan governmentthe site to global best-in-class safety and environmental standards.and other like-minded organizations to fund these new canolaThe new, purpose-built site, in an approved industrial zone, research projects, said Keith Fournier, SaskCanola Researchis a key component in ADAMAs global manufacturing layout and Chair. Ongoing research investments are key to ensuring thatis expected to deliver significant operational efficiencies and cost Saskatchewan farmers can address challenges they are seeing inreductions. the field so that their farm businesses continue to be profitable. The advanced facility currently produces Acephate, a These research projects range from one to five years in dura- wide-spectrum insecticide, and its intermediate DMPAT, secur-tion. The ADF is supported through the Canadian Agriculturaling ADAMAs leading global position in this key molecule. While Partnership, a five-year, $388 million agreement between the fed- the new site has only recently resumed production, the Company eral and provincial governments to invest in strategic initiativesexpects output levels to gradually ramp up over the coming for Saskatchewan agriculture. months. The transformed new site is also designed to accom-modate additional new molecules emerging from the Companys strong development pipeline.STATUS UK The new, advanced site includes a state-of-the-art wastewater facility, a thermal oxidation system for the elimination of emissions New legislation will be put in place to cut unnecessary red tapeand odors, and is designed to meet the highest international HSE for gene editing, helping our farmers to grow more resistant,standards.nutritious and productive crops. The rule changes, made possibleOur strong track record in rapidly enhancing HSE standards at by the UKs departure from the EU, will mean that scientistsour facilities globally, especially in Israel, and our significant invest-across England will be able to undertake plant-based researchments in recent years in our facilities, both in China and globally, and development, using genetic technologies such as gene edit- enables us to continue striving to reduce our environmental foot-ing, more easily. The rules will apply to plants where gene edit- print as much as possible while producing safe, high-quality prod-ing is used to create new varieties similar to those which coulducts, says David Ben Simon, ADAMAs Head of China Operations.have been produced more slowly through traditional breedingSimon adds, The commencement of operations at our new processes and will unlock research opportunities to grow cropsJingzhou facility is a major milestone in our commitment to bring-which are more nutritious, and which require less pesticide use.ing our backward-integrated solutions to the market while meeting Outside the EU, the UK is able to cut red tape and set better rulesglobal standards of sustainability in our facilities worldwide.and regulations that work in the best interests of British farmers and scientists. The legislation being laid today is the first step towards adopting a more scientific and proportionate approachSTATUS IRANto the regulation of genetic technologies, which will allow us to further unlock innovation using these technologies. Director-general of the Iranian Agricultural Ministry's International Affairs Office says the ministry is going to expand cooperation with specialized international organizations through STATUS U.S. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).As IRNA reported, the UNDP representatives held a meeting In todays global market, U.S. producers need access to diverseand a workshop at the place of the Iranian Agricultural Ministry varieties of healthy seed from around the world, and sufficienton Monday to explore the capacities and potentials for mutual safeguards to protect their industries against the introductioncooperation.and distribution of damaging seed-borne diseases, the UnitedThe United Nations Development Programme workshop and States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)the joint meeting with the UNDP representatives have provided an says in a new announcement. APHIS Regulatory Frameworkopportunity for us to expand our cooperation with specialized inter-for Seed Health (ReFreSH), when fully implemented, will helpnational organizations, Alimorad Sarafrazi says at the meeting.manage the phytosanitary challenges and risks of introducingThe Agriculture Ministrys priorities for cooperation with and distributing seed-borne diseases, the organization says. Theinternational organizations will be in areas like drought resilience, new ReFreSH web page outlines how this risk-based systemscontract farming, smart agriculture, as well as reforming the struc-approach works to leverage current seed industry productionture and improving agricultural businesses in rural areas with an and quality management practices to reduce overall pest risk. emphasis on women's occupations, he noted.Source: Tehran Times44IEUROPEAN SEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM"