Monsanto will keep trying to commercialize GM alfalfa in Canada and it is imperative that we close the door on this GM crop now.

Sign the Statement Against GM Alfalfa

Your group or farm business can still sign onto the Campaign, see below and contact us.

• Click here to see the list of groups that have endorsed the campaign.
• Click here for the position paper on alfalfa from the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate.
• Click here to join the News Listserve for the No to GMO Alfalfa Campaign.
• Press Release, July 2 2009: U.S. Court Defeats Monsanto’s Genetically Modified Alfalfa, For Now: Monsanto’s Plans in Canada Likely Delayed
• Press Release April 28 2009: Widespread Call Issued to Stop GM Alfalfa in Canada: 80 groups to fight the commercialization of genetically modified alfalfa.

The Canadian Government has approved Monsanto’s GMO herbicide resistant (Roundup Ready) Alfalfa for human consumption and environmental release but Monsanto has not yet applied for variety registration. This step is needed before the crop can be commercially grown in Canada.

The commercialization of genetically modified alfalfa -- GMO Alfalfa -- planned by Monsanto and Forage Genetics International, would have a severe, negative impact on Canadian agriculture, markets, and our environment. A united effort by agriculture producer groups, consumer and environmental organizations, as well as concerned individuals, will prevent this from happening. A similar campaign stopped GMO wheat in 2004.

This is your invitation to join together to put the brakes on GMO Alfalfa.

We invite all organizations, producer associations, companies and community groups to endorse the Stop GM Alfalfa campaign by signing on to the following statement (Your group’s name will be used in a list of groups that state opposition to GMO Alfalfa):

• We oppose the sale, trade and production of GMO Alfalfa in Canada.
• We ask the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to reassess its approval for environmental release of GMO Alfalfa.
• We want the public to understand the hazards, costs and market losses that would result if GMO Alfalfa were released into our environment.

Sign the letter and return to SOD OAPF or just email coordinator@cban.ca

The Saskatchewan Organic Directorate (SOD) is a Member of CBAN. SOD is the umbrella group for the organic sector in Saskatchewan. In 2001 the Organic Agriculture Protection Fund Committee was established by SOD in order to protect organic farms and food from contamination by GMOs. The OAPF Committee provided support to the legal action against Monsanto and Bayer to bring about an injunction to stop the commercialization of GMO wheat, and to make the biotech companies liable for losses to organic farmers due to contamination of certified organic crops and fields by GMO canola. In 2004 Monsanto withdrew its application to have GMO wheat approved in Canada.

More Alfalfa News

January 2010: In 2009 a U.S. appeals court rejected an appeal by Monsanto to overturn a ruling that prohibits plantings of genetically modified (GM) alfalfa in the country until the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) completes an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Monsanto is now taking this case to the Supreme Court even though a draft EIS is out for comment and the final will be published in February.

For more information contact:
OAPF Chairperson, Arnold Taylor at (306) 252-2075, or Lucy Sharratt at the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) (613) 241-2267 ext.5, or coordinator@cban.ca