Gene-Editing Never Looked so Sexy Until Now!
An essential read covering developments in agribusiness, agroscience, and agrotech.
Introduction
Hey everyone, and welcome new subscribers!
An interesting read for you today, with a look at what is going on with the “eye in the sky” when it comes to crop protection and some exciting news for Canadian producers. Lots going on in the quick bites section including quarterly planting reports by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, that have been leaving traders “demoralized”.
Contents
Canada is Ripe for Food Innovation
Fighting Crop Disease, From Space
Read time: 5 minutes
AgroScience
Canada is Ripe for Food Innovation
A recent study was done by Health Canada experts to dive a little deeper into the science behind genetically edited food. Not to be mistaken with genetically modified organisms (GMOs)…
What’s the difference?
GMOs are living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering. Gene-editing is a method that lets scientists change the DNA of plants, bacteria, and animals that can lead to physical changes like eye color and other traits but more importantly, disease risk. Hmm, sounds the same…
It is actually quite different!
Genetically modifying organisms involves introducing a foreign gene into an existing genome in random places, these genes can come from the same species or a distant species.
Genome-editing involves making specific changes to the genetic code of an organism to enhance desirable qualities and remove undesirable ones. Scientists introduce cuts into DNA strands, enabling the removal of existing DNA and the insertion of replacement DNA.
Still Confused… This website was built to help with the confusion…
What They Found
The study by Health Canada concluded that the technology is safe for human consumption and the environment, in fact, it is as safe as conventional plant breeding.
What Does This Mean Now?
Well for one, Canadian producers now have access to the same types of plant breeding available in other countries.
They will be growing gene-edited crops soon, and it is about time!!
Canadian farmers will no longer be fighting the uphill battle against large grain exporters like the United States or Argentina, who have already ruled gene-editing a safe practice.
Agrotech
Fighting Crop Disease, From Space
Agriculture Canada wants to update its Disease Risk Tool, otherwise, know as DiRT1. Originally developed back in 2016 to help query disease risk by pulling together various risk factors and produce a geospatial-information tool. For instance, sclerotinia in canola has various risk factors that DiRT1 can monitor with satellite-bassed data derived from RADARSAT-2, the world's most advanced, commercially available, Earth observation radar image provider.
The investment will broaden the Disease Risk Tools capabilities by including crops beyond canola. It will help predict plant disease and help researchers test new prediction models paving the way for new field tools.
Interesting Fact: RADARSAT-2 traveled 2.35 billion kilometers in just 10 years (2007-2017) orbiting the Earth 14.29 times per day.
Ag Action Quick Bites
- USDA forecasted planting reports left many confused after unusually large and unexpected adjustments were made. Market participants are feeling demoralized by the reports as they are throwing off the trade estimates and increasing traders’ exposure.
- New policy in China aiming to diversify its feed ingredients has Canada benefiting. Bloomberg reported China is attempting to reduce its reliance on those two crops in hog rations. The country purchased large volumes of wheat, barley, peas, sorghum, and other crops in 2020.
- Lean hog futures notch life-of-contract highs on Thursday. The CME’s lean hog index, a two-day weighted average of cash prices, climbed to $98.50/cwt, its highest since October 2014
- Flax markets are at risk of being oversupplied. The USDA is forecasting 400,000 acres will be planted in that country this spring, a 31 percent increase over last year.
Commodity Action
Quotes as of Sun, Apr 4th, 2021.
Disclaimer:
Information contained herein is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed. AgraSight and information sources assume no responsibility or liability for any action taken as a result of any information or advice contained in these reports, and any action taken is solely at the liability and responsibility of the user.
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Agriculture is our wisest pursuit because it will, in the end, contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.
- Thomas Jefferson
Have a great Sunday and thank you for reading!