Contamination from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is a problem for some crop types. For example, most organic grain farmers in the Prairies stopped growing canola after GM contamination of seed became widespread, and Canada’s flax industry is still recovering from GM contamination that closed export markets. Contamination is a problem. But rather than take all measures possible to stop it, the federal government has responded by proposing a policy that accepts it as unavoidable. This Low-Level Presence (LLP) policy asserts that GM contamination is not the problem, but rather our unwillingness to accept it. (Spring 2018)

The editorial, “Health Canada is obligated to approve Golden Rice,” (WP, April 5), interprets the department’s decision as a “humanitarian gesture,” but that is an assumption — an incorrect assumption. Additionally, and more importantly, the release of Golden Rice is opposed by a significant number of large farmers’ networks across Asia. (April 2018)

The genetically modified (GM) fish company AquaBounty appears to have hit a major snag of its own making. It started construction of the world’s first GM fish factory at Rollo Bay, PEI but it doesn’t actually have permission to grow the GM fish there. (August 2, 2017)

Orchardists in BC, particularly organic growers, need to know where the GM apple is cultivated. CBAN investigates the status in Canada. (December 2016)

After two decades, it’s time for the government to assess the benefits, risks and impacts of GM crops. It’s time to track GM crops in the field, and label GM foods in the store. Once Canada’s experience is documented and understood, then we can begin to debate the role of GM in food and farming, in our country and around the world. (Summer 2016)

A French study on the safety of a genetically modified corn has just been republished. This seemingly ordinary event is globally significant. The study and the public fight over it exposes an ugly and dangerous reality in the regulation of GM foods across the world: The GM foods we are eating have not been subjected to long-term animal feeding trials. (2014)

“We cannot allow the technophobes and Luddites to impede this work. We will need every biotech available,” said Henry Clifford, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at AquaBounty, the company that wants approval to sell its GM salmon for fish farming. Is Clifford right? (2013)

Alfalfa is an out-crossing, perennial plant that is pollinated by insects. These characteristics make it particularly susceptible to gene flow from one plant to another. (2013)

Its easy to make big promises for the future of this technology but at what point do we conclude that the GM experiment has failed and that the promised miracle crops are not going to materialize? The reality is that GM failed before it was even commercialized. Without farmer and public consultation, the technology was doomed to be misapplied by corporations to suit their needs rather than the needs of farmers and consumers. (2013)