Ottawa—Health Canada has launched a public consultation on two new pieces of guidance it is proposing for its plant breeding and novel food regulations and farmers are being urged to get involved in the process.The guidance is intended to provide “greater clarity, predictability and transparency regarding the regulation of novel foods derived from plants, including those developed using gene editing technologies,” the department says. It should also provide an efficient and predictable pathway to commercialization for new products.Farmers have until May 24 to tell Health Canada why they support new plant breeding techniques, farm groups say. When enacted, the guidance “will determine the speed at which Canadian farmers gain access to new crop innovations, the amount of crop research and development activity that will happen in our country, and ultimately Canada's competitiveness in the global marketplace.”“Over the last three years exciting new plant breeding techniques have been advancing throughout the world, but the Canadian regulatory guidance has not kept pace,” the groups say. “Health Canada's proposal is a very positive step forward to show Canada can be both a centre of crop innovation and a leader in food safety.”Erin Gowriluk, Executive Director of Grain Growers of Canada, said, “We are standing at a critical juncture in Canadian agriculture. As an industry, we know what it will take for farmers to be successful, and that clearly includes continuous adoption of new crop innovation. Now is the time for growers and our colleagues in the agriculture industry to collectively speak up to encourage good government policy.”Rick White, CEO of the Canadian Canola Growers Association, said “We are encouraging the Canadian government to stand firmly behind the science of plant breeding innovation. Scientists around the world have acknowledged that using gene editing in plant breeding is just as safe as conventional breeding and our regulatory system needs to recognize this to ensure the Canadian agriculture industry can remain competitive.”Brendan Byrne, the incoming chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario, said, “As we collectively face significant global challenges around food security and climate change, innovations like gene edited crops can help farmers adapt to changing climate conditions and pest pressures while continuing to grow safe, high quality food for Canadians and consumers around the world.”To obtain copies of the two guidance proposals and discussion , email your request to [email protected] You can also signal your support for modern plant breeding by going to https://www.advancingagriculture.ca/take-action and add your comments. If you want to know more about plant breeding innovations, check out the CropLife Canada website www.croplife.caIn addition to this consultation, Health Canada said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will be consulting soon on new guidance for the environmental release of new plant varieties as part of a separate public consultation process.Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.