Should a New Biological Pesticide for Soybean and Wheat Be Approved?
Official title: Proposed Registration Decision PRD2025-01, Flg22-Bt Peptide, Vismax Seed Treatment, and Vismax Row Crop
Health Canada is deciding whether to approve a new biological pesticide called Flg22-Bt peptide. It's designed to protect soybean and wheat crops from Fusarium fungal diseases. Unlike traditional chemical pesticides, this is a peptide-based treatment applied to seeds.
Why This Matters
Eat bread or tofu? This affects how those crops are grown. Fusarium diseases can devastate wheat and soybean harvests, driving up food prices. A new biological treatment could mean fewer chemical pesticides in our food system.
What Could Change
If approved, farmers could use this new seed treatment on soybean and wheat crops across Canada. Three products would be registered: Flg22-Bt Peptide Technical, Vismax Seed Treatment, and Vismax Row Crop. This would add a biological option to the pesticide toolkit for fighting crop diseases.
Key Issues
- Is the Flg22-Bt peptide safe for human health and the environment?
- Is this biological pesticide effective at controlling Fusarium diseases in soybean and wheat?
How to Participate
- Review the Consultation Summary document to understand the proposed registration.
- Contact the Pest Management Regulatory Agency Publications Section to submit your comments. Include the consultation title in your submission.