KVD ENDS IN 2008 FOR ALL CLASSES OF WHEAT
OTTAWA, Ontario, February 11, 2008 – The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today announced the full removal of kernel visual distinguishability (KVD) as a variety registration screening criterion for all classes of Western Canadian wheat as of August 1, 2008.
“Canadian farmers need access to the best crop science and varieties to be successful and the Government of Canada is working to give producers every advantage,” said Minister Ritz. “Moving beyond KVD will allow Canadian farmers to harness the potential of new crop varieties tailored to livestock nutrition and biofuel production.”
“This Government is committed to working with farmers, handlers, and processors to maintain the highest level of quality assurance and competitiveness.”
The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) announced in June 2006 that KVD would end for the minor classes of wheat by August 1, 2008. Today’s announcement extends the removal of KVD in 2008 to all classes of Western Canadian wheat, including Canada Western Red Spring and Canada Western Amber Durum.
Removing the KVD requirements for wheat registration and segregation will allow for the development and registration of new high-yielding varieties of wheat suitable for other uses such as feed and biofuels, without requiring that they look different than milling wheats. Canada's variety registration system will continue to include stringent quality, agronomic and disease-resistance requirements to uphold Canada's reputation for quality wheat.
The CGC is working collaboratively with industry and producers to ensure continued quality assurance in a post-KVD environment. To assist in this process, government and industry are working together to develop technologies to assist in rapidly identifying varieties of wheat.
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For more information, media may contact:
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-759-7972
1-866-345-7972
OTTAWA, Ontario, February 11, 2008 – The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today announced the full removal of kernel visual distinguishability (KVD) as a variety registration screening criterion for all classes of Western Canadian wheat as of August 1, 2008.
“Canadian farmers need access to the best crop science and varieties to be successful and the Government of Canada is working to give producers every advantage,” said Minister Ritz. “Moving beyond KVD will allow Canadian farmers to harness the potential of new crop varieties tailored to livestock nutrition and biofuel production.”
“This Government is committed to working with farmers, handlers, and processors to maintain the highest level of quality assurance and competitiveness.”
The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) announced in June 2006 that KVD would end for the minor classes of wheat by August 1, 2008. Today’s announcement extends the removal of KVD in 2008 to all classes of Western Canadian wheat, including Canada Western Red Spring and Canada Western Amber Durum.
Removing the KVD requirements for wheat registration and segregation will allow for the development and registration of new high-yielding varieties of wheat suitable for other uses such as feed and biofuels, without requiring that they look different than milling wheats. Canada's variety registration system will continue to include stringent quality, agronomic and disease-resistance requirements to uphold Canada's reputation for quality wheat.
The CGC is working collaboratively with industry and producers to ensure continued quality assurance in a post-KVD environment. To assist in this process, government and industry are working together to develop technologies to assist in rapidly identifying varieties of wheat.
- 30 -
For more information, media may contact:
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-759-7972
1-866-345-7972
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