Help the minister get the message: No Hidden GM Seeds!
On Thursday March 9, 2023, call the Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, to ask her to listen to organic farmers, not biotechnology companies: Tell the minister that farmers need a mandatory public registry of all GM seeds sold on the market, including those developed using gene editing technologies.
No hidden genetically modified seeds! Call 613-995-2024 to leave your message for the minister.
Today’s Press Release
Organic farmers mobilizing to call the agriculture minister聽on Thursday
March 9, 2023聽to Stop Hidden GM Seeds
Monday, March 6, 2023 鈥� Regina. The Saskatchewan farmer-led organization SaskOrganics is asking organic farmers and consumers to call the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, on Thursday, March 9, to ask her to ensure transparency of all genetically modified (GM or genetically engineered) seeds entering the market, including all those produced through the genetic engineering techniques of gene editing.
鈥淲e鈥檙e asking Minister Bibeau to protect Canada鈥檚 organic farms and food from hidden GM seeds,鈥� said Marla Carlson, SaskOrganics鈥� Executive Director, 鈥淔armers need transparency and its鈥� what consumers want.鈥�
SaskOrganics has called for a Day of Action on March 9th with the message 鈥淣o Hidden GM Seeds鈥� in response to proposals from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that would allow some undisclosed, unknown GM seeds onto the market.
鈥淥rganic farmers need a public registry of all genetically modified seeds,鈥� said Garry Johnson, SaskOrganics鈥� President, 鈥淲e need transparency and traceability.鈥�
The minister will decide if some GM seeds can enter the market without any government environmental safety assessments and without any notification to farmers. Specifically, the CFIA is proposing to exempt some gene-edited seeds that have no foreign DNA from Part V of the Seeds Regulations. This would mean some GM seeds could enter the market without any government approval process. The CFIA is suggesting companies could voluntarily let the government and farmers know about unapproved gene-edited seeds coming to market.
鈥淎 mandatory list of all GM seeds is necessary so organic farmers can continue to farm organically,鈥� said Marla Carlson. 鈥淚f biotechnology companies can hide GM seeds from farmers by leaving them off a voluntary registry, we won鈥檛 be able to protect our fields from genetic modification.鈥�
The Canada Organic Standards prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and that includes products of gene editing. Organic farmers need to know which seeds are GM so they can buy non-GM seed and take measures to avoid contamination from nearby GM crops.
鈥淲e have no desire to stop non-organic farmers accessing gene edited seeds but our ability to farm organically is being threatened,鈥� said Garry Johnson. 鈥淭he minister can protect organic farmers by making sure there is full disclosure of all GM seeds.
SaskOrganics is calling on organic farmers, and all consumers who want an organic choice, to call the Minister鈥檚 office in Ottawa at 613-995-2024 on Thursday to tell the minister – 鈥漀o hidden genetically modified seeds.鈥�
For more Information:
Marla Carlson, Executive Director
c: 306-535-2710 | e: marla@saskoganics.com
SaskOrganics is the farmer led provincial organization representing and supporting 1025 organic producers, processors and organic sector businesses in Saskatchewan.聽 Our 938 producer members manage over 1.175 million acres, thirty percent (29%) of all organic acreage in Canada. We advocate for a sustainable and thriving organic community through leadership in research, education, market development and communications.