C
anadian farmers planted 
a record 23.4 million acres 
of canola in 2026, according to 
Statistics Canada. That number 
tells an important story about 
the scale of canola in Canadian 
agriculture. It also points to a less 
visible fact: every acre depends 
on strong crop establishment, 
and seed treatments play a criti­
cal role in that success. 
Seed treatments are the first 
line of defence against early-
season pests and diseases. In 
canola, growers rely on fun­
gicide and insecticide seed 
treatments to protect seedlings 
during the crop’s most vulner­
able stage. Without that protec­
tion, even the best genetics can 
fall short before the crop is fully 
established.
Innovation in seed treatment 
technology is driven by what 
growers face in the field. For 
Canadian canola growers, two 
key establishment risks are flea 
beetles and soil- and seed-
borne pathogen complex. These 
threats can reduce emergence, 
weaken plant stands, and limit 
yield potential from the start. 
The Bayer SeedGrowth® 
platform helps advance better 
canola and manage those risks 
by combining crop protec­
tion innovation with advanced 
Every acre depends 
	 on strong crop 
  establishment.
Pratibha Prashar
SeedGrowth Project Champion, Bayer Crop Science
CANOLA & BIOFUELS
formulation technology. The goal? Seed treatment formulations that 
deliver reliable seed coverage, accurate active ingredient place­
ment, and consistent performance in real-world conditions.
A defining example is BUTEO® start insecticide seed treatment 
introduced in 2021, which delivers a non-neonic mode 
of action for flea beetle management in canola, 
providing growers with an important tool against 
persistent early-season threats. Developed to 
strengthen the protection during the criti­
cal emergence and establishment period, 
its rapid uptake and systemic movement 
within the plant help deliver reliable 
performance across a range of growing 
conditions. 
More broadly, this seed treatment 
demonstrates how canola innova­
tion builds on proven seed treatment 
foundations, expanding the technolo­
gies available to growers while helping 
protect crop establishment, support 
sustainable pest management, and 
give every acre the strongest possible 
start.
Innovation takes time. Even with faster 
discovery platforms, it can still take up to 14 
years to move a new active ingredient from discovery 
through development and regulatory review to on-farm use. New 
formulations built from existing modes of action and mixing partners 
can move faster, but they may still require 8 to 10 years before they 
are available to farmers.
Whether canola is grown for food oil, livestock feed, renewable 
diesel, or sustainable aviation fuel, productivity starts with crop 
establishment. Robust seed treatments help Canadian growers 
improve productivity, support sustainability, and protect profitability.
—ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Bayer, Bayer Cross, Bayer 
SeedGrowth® and BUTEO® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. Used under license. Bayer 
CropScience Inc. is a member of CropLife Canada. ©2026 Bayer Group. All rights reserved.
SEPTEMBER 2026  SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA   13

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