The Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick (AANB) opposes the Liberal party, Green party, and People’s Alliance of NB’s stance on banning glyphosate usage. The position comes in advance of a September 14 provincial election where the future of the herbicide has come up in campaign literature.

An AANB September 2 news release stated: If the next elected government takes the course toward banning glyphosate, this decision will deeply affect a wide variety of New Brunswick farmers who grow crops such as potatoes, fruits, vegetables, cereals, pulse, corn, canola and soybeans. 

Products such as glyphosate are some of the most important and safest tools available to growers today for crop management. The Canadian Pest Management Regulatory (PMRA), along with other regulatory authorities such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the European Food Safety Authority have all thoroughly studied glyphosate and come to the same conclusion: glyphosate use does not increase cancer risk.

“We urge government to use a science-based decision approach when considering any changes to the use of glyphosate in the province,” wrote Lisa Ashworth, president, AANB. 

She noted that any individual handling a non-domestic pesticide must obtain a Pesticide Applicator Certificate through a comprehensive course and exam that covers pesticide legislation, pest management, environmental impacts, application technology, safety, emergency responses and labelling.

For farmers to remain competitive in the world market and support the local economy, Ashworth said that access is needed for the most effective tools to manage weed, insect, and disease problems that can threaten the quality, value, and quantity of crops.

Source:  Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick September 2, 2020 news release