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Canadian Seed Trade Association statement on genetic use restriction technologies (GURTs)
Ottawa, Canada
March 20, 2006

The Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) has not developed a position on genetic techniques to restrict the reproduction of plants. This science is in its infancy and it is impossible to comment on specific applications.

However, this technology does have the potential to create useful tools for agriculture. Particularly, GURTs may facilitate the development of new high-value products for the industry. For instance, the inclusion of traits useful in the production of pharmaceuticals and industrial polymers could create valuable new markets for crops. Yet, these new products must be kept completly out of the conventional food stream and GURTs could facilitate this. GURTs hold the promise of solving issues of gene flow and volunteer management in mainstream crop production as well.

As a result, the CSTA believes any calls for moratoriums on this research are inappropriate and premature. The CSTA feels research should proceed and debate occur on implementing any such technologies based on the specifics of how they will operate and the context for their use.

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