December 16, 2025 (Halifax) Farmers are expressing concerns over new genetically engineered (GE or genetically modified) seeds and food that could soon be on the market, and the lack of information being provided to consumers.

Over 150 farmers in Ontario and British Colombia, many supplying local and organic markets, have signed a declaration opposing the sale of genetically engineered vegetable seeds in Canada. The declaration comes as biotechnology companies are preparing to market genetically engineered seeds to small growers and home gardeners in Canada for the first time, including at grocery stores and home garden centres.

Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have approved a genetically engineered tomato, trademarked “The Purple Tomato”, from the small U.S. company called Norfolk Healthy Produce which was set up to market the product. Seeds of this GE tomato are already being sold to home gardeners in the U.S.

“Selling genetically engineered seeds to home gardeners is reckless and could jeopardize our ability to provide customers with organic and other non-GE choices,” said Mel Sylvestre of Grounded Acres Organic Farm in Gibsons, BC. “If widely planted by gardeners across the country, these GE seeds pose an unnecessary contamination risk that could threaten heritage seeds and our tradition of seed saving.”

Organic farming prohibits the use of genetically engineered seed, and many non-organic farmers and gardeners also avoid growing GE seed.

“Our customers want to buy the seeds we’ve nurtured on our farm, not patented seeds from corporate laboratories,” said Kim Delaney, seed grower and founder of Hawthorn Farm Organic Seeds in Mount Forest, Ontario. “We should reinforce our local seed systems and reject genetically engineered seeds from U.S. and multinational biotechnology companies. Canadian seed sovereignty should be a priority for all levels of government.”

“We don’t need or want genetic engineering in our gardens,” said Delaney, “We already have many good varieties of purple tomatoes, so we don’t need a genetically engineered version.”

The only genetically engineered vegetable currently grown in Canada is GE sweet corn, with seeds sold in quantities for larger-scale growers. The recently approved GE purple tomatoes and unregulated GE gene-edited salad greens from the company Bayer could be the first of the new products targeting small-scale farmers and home gardeners.

“The federal government’s failure to require mandatory transparency on genetically engineered garden seed creates unnecessary risks for farmers and will add to consumer concerns,” said Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN). “The government should urgently mandate clear labelling of genetically engineered seeds for all farmers and gardeners as a first step before a national policy review.” CBAN is a network of 14 organizations in Canada that researches, monitors, and responds to issues raised by the use of genetic engineering in food and farming, with the goal of promoting food sovereignty, environmental justice and democratic decision-making.

The statement signed by 163 growers says, “We, farmers, gardeners and seed savers, oppose the sale of gene-edited and other genetically engineered seeds to small growers, market gardeners and home gardeners in Canada.” It names the threat of GE contamination as a concern along with the lack of mandatory transparency. Signatures were collected at the Organic BC Conference (November 26-27), the BC Seeds Gathering (November 28), and the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario conference (December 2-4).

For more information:
Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN), 902 209 4906, coordinator@cban.ca

Media Backgrounder: GM Product Alert – Genetically Engineered Purple Tomato Seeds & Fruit Approved in Canada, December 2025.

See CBAN’s report Gene-Edited Fruits and Vegetables: The Threat of New GMOs in Canada, Updated December 2025.

The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) brings together 14 groups to research, monitor and raise awareness about issues relating to genetic engineering in food and farming. CBAN members include farmer associations, environmental and social justice organizations, and regional coalitions of grassroots groups. CBAN is a project on the shared platform of MakeWay Charitable Society. cban.ca