David Suzuki is absolutely correct when he says we need to eat. He’s also right to point out that doing so in an environmentally responsible manner is crucial.
Pesticides and plant biotechnology are critical tools for helping farmers do just that by enabling them to use a lot less land to grow a lot more food, which preserves biodiversity, tackles climate change and conserves natural resources.
Without plant science technologies, Canada would need to farm almost 50 per cent more land to grow the same amount of food. That’s more than the total area of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and P.E.I. combined.
These same technologies also mean farmers drive over fields fewer times, saving up to 194 million litres of fuel a year. And because they use less land, disturb it less frequently, and just generally run their equipment less often, greenhouse gases are reduced by close to 30 million tonnes each year.
Canadian farmers are committed to caring for the environment because they rely on the land for their livelihood. By using technologies that allow them to farm more efficiently, they are protecting the environment we all share.
For more information on how plant science technologies are helping to grow the economy, protecting our environment and building stronger communities go to helpingcanadagrow.ca.
Sincerely,
Ted Menzies
President and CEO, CropLife Canada
Ottawa