Canadian Seed Trade Association Praises International Statement Supporting Plant Breeding Innovation

The Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) applauds the World Trade Organization's (WTO) International Statement on Agricultural Applications of Precision Biotechnology and supports continued global coordination on biotechnology. Canada, together with other countries including the United States of America signed the Statement on October 30, 2018 during the WTO Committee on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures in Geneva.

CSTA Executive Director Dave Carey said, "WTO's statement demonstrates a worldwide recognition of the critical role that plant breeding techniques play in global food production. Seed is the first link in the agri-food value chain and innovative techniques are required now more than ever to meet the growing demand for high-quality food and feed that is produced in an efficient and sustainable manner."

To date, the following countries and organizations have endorsed the WTO statement: Argentina, leading this effort, as well as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Jordan, Paraguay, the United States, Uruguay, Vietnam, and the Secretariat of the Economic Community of West African States.

For more details, read the CSTA news release.