Agrifood exports could be an economic driver.Ottawa--Modern plant breeding and crop protection products have markedly improved yields and generated substantial revenues for Canada's farmers, says a new report from CropLife Canada.It updates a 2015 study on plant science innovations and says they provide particularly significant benefits for farmers as well as creating more jobs in supply industries, milling, biofuels and Canada's overall economic productivity.“Plant science innovations have supported local food production in Canada,” the report says. “They have established Canada as one of the world's major exporters of agriculture products.”The most important impact of plant science innovations is they boost field crop  yields. “In total, Canada's crop production would be $9.2 billion lower if farmers grew the same crop mix without plant science innovations, including $7.7 billion less field crops, $1.0 billion less fruits and vegetables, and $460 million less potatoes.”Products registered under Canada's Minor Use Pesticide Program prevented between $653 and $998 million of crop losses annually, Agriculture Canada has concluded, the report notes.Genetically-modified crops deliver non-pecuniary benefits such as providing farmers with greater management flexibility. “Farmers may use their time for other farming activities or find off-farm income.”Herbicide tolerant soybeans and inspect-resistant corn generated an additional $127 million in non-pecuniary benefits for growers.The prospects of higher earnings from crops has more than tripled the value of farmland since 2002, a figure far higher than Canada's residential properties. Expected revenues are the primary driver of farmland value.Plant science innovations have certainly boosted on-farm revenues through higher yields. Farmland values could be about 10 to 30 per cent lower without plant science innovations due to lower revenues, the report said.The 2019 Advisory Council on Economic Growth report said agriculture was a vital industry to support economic growth. Canada should aim to grow agricultural product exports from 5.7 per cent of total world agricultural trade to 8 per cent per cent and double its share of agrifood exports. “If Canada were to reach these targets by 2027, it would add $30 billion to the economy.”An Agriculture Canada survey has found four out of five Canadians have a favourable impression of Canada's agriculture sector. Among those with an unfavourable opinion, many believe that food prices are too high and that modern agriculture practice uses too many pesticides and harms the environment.“On the contrary, the evidence shows that recent plant science innovations have enabled increased food production as farmland shrinks and cities expand, reduced the impact of agriculture on climate change, and improved the use of pesticides.”The report also says that “Roughly $1 billion in domestic production per year supports $924 million in GDP, including $323 million in wages and nearly 5,400 jobs for Canadians.”Ethanol and biofuels are poised for growth in Canada due to an increased focus on climate change.” It said. “Canada's field crops are vital inputs. Canada's farmers would have supplied $200 million less feedstock for biofuels without plant science innovations – about 25 per cent of all feedstock. Corn and wheat are the most commonly used field crops for biofuels in Canada.”A large portion of Canada's agricultural production is destined for foreign markets, particularly canola and other field crops, which benefit significantly from plant science innovations. Canada's agrifood exports could have been 33 per cent or $8.5 billion lower without the use of crop protection products.“Without plant science innovations, Canada's net agri-food trade balance could be as much as 72 per cent lower.”