Protect Our Seeds from New GMOs

November 2025: A new threat to organic farmers and seed savers is looming: Genetically engineered (genetically modified or GM) fruit and vegetable seeds could soon be marketed to small growers and home gardeners in Canada.

What’s at risk:

• Organic and other non-GMO seed
• The tradition of seed saving
• Preservation of heritage seeds
• Trust in our seeds
• Some export markets

The sale of GM garden seeds constitutes a direct attack on organic food and farming, and a threat to Canada’s seed supply. If genetically modified garden seeds are sold, there is a high likelihood they will contaminate seed stocks and end up, unwanted, in gardens and on farms across Canada.

Take Action

Here are some action options:

1. Write to the seed company Stokes and tell them that they should sign the Safe Seed Pledge and ensure they do not sell any unregulated gene-edited seeds. Email stokes@stokeseeds.com. (Stokes Seeds does not have a non-GMO policy. Stokes sells several varieties of GM sweet corn seeds which it categorizes as “biotech sweet corn” in its catalogue.)
2. Write to the head office of your grocery store chain and tell them to commit to selling only non-GMO produce. Tell them to ensure they do not sell any gene-edited fruits and vegetables. Click here for contact emails.
3. Contact us for information to distribute at local Seedy Saturday events and your farm stand. Email outreach@cban.ca
4. Subscribe to CBAN’s No GMO Salad campaign listserv for relevant updates and action alerts

Resources

• Alert: Genetically Modified Garden Seeds, CBAN, November 2025.
• No GMO Salad Update and Action Report, CBAN, July 2025. www.cban.ca/NoGMOsaladreport
• Gene-Edited Fruits and Vegetables: The Threat of New GMOs in Canada, CBAN, October 2025. www.cban.ca/GMFoods2025
• See cban.ca/NoGMOsalad

Seed Companies:

• All certified organic seeds are also, by definition, non-GMO. If you are looking for organic seeds, you can click here to access the Ecological Seed Finder, an index of Canadian seed companies.  
  Use the “Certified Organic Only” filter to find organic seeds.  
• Additionally, the following non-organic seed companies have confirmed to CBAN (January 2025) that they will not sell any genetically engineered (genetically modified or GM) seeds including the gene-edited salad greens seeds:

• • Ontario Seed Company (OSC) 
  • McKenzie Seeds 
  • Burpee USA 
  • West Coast Seeds 
  • Salt Spring Seeds
  • You can also find and contact companies listed in the Ecological Seed Finder.
  • Ask your local seed company to confirm that their seed is non-GMO. A good way to find out more about the seeds you buy is to buy local and connect with your seed grower.
  • If you are buying seeds from US companies, note that Johnny’s Selected Seeds has a non-GMO policy, and High Mowing is a certified organic company. Many companies from the US and Canada have also signed the new Safe Seed Pledge. Click here to check that database.