(OTTAWA) April 21, 2016 - The Green Party of Canada is calling on Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay to take immediate action to stop any further release of genetically modified (GM) Alfalfa seed in Canada.
The demand follows an announcement by Forage Genetics International that it has begun selling GM Alfalfa for spring 2016 planting in eastern Canada.
"We know that genetically modified Alfalfa will hurt farm income in Canada the same way it hurt U.S. farmers upon its release a few years ago," said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands).
"The presence of GM Alfalfa will collapse Canada's lucrative Alfalfa seed export market. When the U.S. became contaminated with GM seed, Canada took over the $50 million GM-free Alfalfa seed market and now exports to many countries which do not allow Genetically Modified Organisms. Alfalfa hay and honey exports will also be irreparably damaged with this short-sighted move,” Ms. May said.
Many Canadian farm associations are calling for the same action from the federal government.
"Once the GM Alfalfa seed is out of the bag, it can not be contained,” said Kate Storey, Green Party Agriculture Critic. “Alfalfa pollen is spread on the wind and by bees into neighboring fields and spreads about 5 kilometres a year. Organic fields are also at risk of contamination with unknown effects on Canada's $3 billion organic exports.The agronomic benefit of GM Alfalfa is limited, especially since weed resistance is expected to make the GM trait virtually useless in a few years.”
"The benefit of GM Alfalfa is small and the loss of the Alfalfa export market is huge", said May. "I call on the Agriculture Minister to act now to prevent the contamination of our GM-free Alfalfa seed in eastern Canada.”
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Debra Eindiguer
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