Organic standards require organic farmers to do everything they can to minimize the risk that the crops they grow will be subject to genetic contamination. The most common source of genetic contamination is neighbouring fields that are growing genetically modified (GM) crops. In Canada, the most common GM crops are canola, corn and soy beans, but other crops types such as sugar beets can also be sources of genetic contamination.

What is Genetic Modification?

When an organism’s (plant or animal) genetic material is purposely modified in the laboratory, we call this genetic modification (GM). Biotechnology companies modify a plant's genetic material to develop traits that they believe will have beneficial agronomic or health qualities. The most common GM trait that has been developed to date is the ability for crops to tolerate the damaging effects of glyphosate-based weed killers - thus allowing farmers to apply weed killers broadly without worrying about harming the crop.

During this biotechnology process, genes from one species are transferred into the DNA of another species. Throughout the life cycle of a genetically modified, or transgenic plant, modified genetic material is replicated and transferred through natural life cycle processes. Thus the transformed genes are expressed in all of the seeds that crop bears. The modified genetic material also spreads through natural pollination to other transgenic crops, nontransgenic crops, and even native plants. Thus, it is extraordinarily difficult to restrict gene flow to a single field or crop.

Why is this technology banned in Organic Agriculture?

Because organic principles are built around the precautionary principle. The precautionary principle councils us to avoid serious or irreversible potential harm in the face of scientific uncertainty. Despite what we hear from the biotechnology companies that manufacture products using GM technology, the environmental and health impacts of GM products are far from understood. Below, you'll find links to some of the best independent science (don't be fooled by biotech industry science!) on the social, agronomic, environmental and health costs of GM technology.



Once you've read through some of these comments and studies and have made the decision to do something about genetic contamination, click here for some next steps.

INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATION

• Between 2005 and 2010 alone, Monsanto acquired over 30 independent seed companies.
• Over 85-90% of all soybeans, sugar beets, cotton, canola and corn grown in the U.S. contain Monsanto's patented genes.
• Industry consolidation has caused seed prices to rise. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, corn seed prices have risen by 135% since 2008 while soy bean prices have risen by 108% over the same period.
• A recent study of seed pricing over the past 35 years found that, between 1975 and 1997, soybean farmers spent between 4 and 8% of their farm income on seeds, while in 2009, farmers who planted transgenic soybeans spent 16.4% of their income on seeds.
• Since obtaining its transgenic seed patents, Monsanto has sought to protect and enhance its dominant market power through abusive litigation practices and anticompetitive licensing agreements.
  
  

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS