In early 2000, reports surfaced that a Canadian farmer had discovered that canola plants growing in his fields had acquired resistance to three different herbicides. In 1997, the producer had seeded two fields with canola varieties genetically-engineered to be resistant to herbicides: one resistant to Aventis' Liberty (gluphosinate), and the other resistant to Monsanto's Roundup (glyphosate). Additionally, he planted varieties of canola which had been bred (via traditional plant breeding) to be resistant to Cyanamid's herbicides Pursuit and Oddyssey. After replanting saved seeds, the farmer discovered some canola plants resistant to two of the herbicides in the first year, and resistant to three herbicides the following year-- apparently due to cross-pollination among the varieties.

Anti-GE activists often cite the report as evidence of the environmental dangers of genetic engineering. However, most fail to note that one of the three herbicide resistances came from a conventionally-bred variety (not genetically engineered)-- demonstrating that the problems associated with gene-transfer are not specific to genetically engineered varieties. Herbicide resistance can also be developed in conventionally-bred varieties-- or by the over-application of herbicides-- and these genes can also move into other interfertile plants.

The "triply-resistant canola" showed no other weedy characteristics and was still susceptible to other common herbicides.
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