GMO stands for “genetically modified organism”. Sometimes you'll see "GE" in this context, which stands for "genetically engineered".

Farmers are not allowed to save seeds from their GM plants, so they must buy seeds and special pesticides every year.

GM plants cross-pollinate with other plants, giving control of our food to corporations by undermining our ability to grow, sell, and eat organic food. When corporations rule our food, we lose food security, plant diversity, small family farms, and the choice of what we grow and eat.

GM plants are banned in Germany, Ireland, Hungary and many other places. Many US and Canadians regions are now declaring themselves GE or GMO Free. Canada does not label GM foods, although there is a Non GMO Project where food producers can be verified as meeting the Project's Standard.

Genetically modified canola, corn, potatoes, soybeans, sugar beets and alfalfa are currently grown in Canada. Apples have also been approved for production in Canada but are not yet being commercially grown. A further four GM crops are grown in other parts of the world – cotton, eggplant, papaya and squash. The GMO crop golden rice – which is vitamin A-enhanced – has been approved as safe for sale by Health Canada

GM crops are dangerous, and yet they are taking over our rural communities and our food system. It is difficult if not impossible to find soy, corn and canola crops that are non-GMO.

Canada also grows GM sugar beets. As you can imagine, most foods on store shelves contain some GMO in the form of sugar, corn syrup, corn, soy or canola.

Yet a study in Argentina called "Argentina's Roundup Human Tragedy - GM Soy a Death Sentence for Humans and the Environment" proves that GM crops should never have been allowed.

Genetic modification plays with the building blocks of life, yet this technology was allowed in Canada without any longitudinal studies ever being performed. The first longitudinal study occurred in Russia in 2010 and linked GM soy to infertility, infant mortality, slower growth and disrupted DNA functions. How will these crops affect humans after 2 or 3 generations? See: http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/04/16/6524765.html and for a more detailed analysis: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-smith/genetically-modified-soy_b_….

Because GMO plants cross-pollinate with traditional and organic crops in the same families, and GM crops require drenching with glyphosate pesticides, GMO crops take away our freedom to grow safe non-GMO foods. For example, canola is in the brassica family, affecting turnips, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, etc.

We have written, petitioned and begged all levels of government to take action and protect us, to no avail. Canada still refuses to label GM foods and no other level of government has acted.

This is why it is crucial to have a Bee SAFE movement now, to show that we want a SAFE agriculture while we can still protect ourselves from this destructive agriculture.

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup®, and over a hundred other commercial formulations. It is a cause of great concern, as evidence of its harmful effects keeps piling up.

Independent scientific studies in recent years link pesticides to endocrine disruption, DNA damage, reproductive and developmental toxicities, neuro-toxicity, cancer, and birth defects.

"The European Commission approved glyphosate knowing, as Monsanto did, that it causes birth defects, while the public were kept in the dark, the herbicide must now be banned" Dr Eva Sirinathsinghji and Dr. Mae-Wan Ho.
See: http://www.isis.org.uk/EU_Regulators_Monsanto_Glyphosate_Toxicity.php.

Glyphosate is absorbed through the leaves and spreads throughout the plant, including the roots and seeds. Glyphosate is systemic; it can’t be washed off because it’s inside the plant.

The Argentinan experience is dire. 'Argentina's Roundup human tragedy - GM Soy, a death sentence for humans and the environment' shows how 10 years of GM soy and glyphosate have escalated the rates of cancer and birth defects.  See: http://www.i-sis.org.uk/argentinasRoundupHumanTragedy.php,
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/blog/glyphosate-public-healt….

In addition glyphosate has now proven to cause yield reduction and crop damages in other crops.
See: http://www.gmfreecymru.org.uk/pivotal_papers/glufosinate_drift.html.

The pesticide industry and EU regulators knew as long ago as the 1980s-1990s that Roundup, the world's best selling herbicide, causes birth defects – but they failed to inform the public.

This report, co-authored by international scientists and researchers, reveals that industry’s own studies (including one commissioned by Monsanto) showed as long ago as the 1980s that Roundup’s active ingredient glyphosate causes birth defects in laboratory animals.

We, the undersigned scientists, call for the immediate suspension of all environmental releases of GM crops and products, both commercially and in open field trials, for at least 5 years; for patents on living processes, organisms, seeds, cell lines and genes to be revoked and banned; and for a comprehensive public enquiry into the future of agriculture and food security for all.

Patents on life-forms and living processes should be banned because they threaten food security, sanction biopiracy of indigenous knowledge and genetic resources, violate basic human rights and dignity, compromise healthcare, impede medical and scientific research and are against the welfare of animals.

"Grass fed" is a label often appearing on meat and dairy. It's a positive marketing signal because grass-fed is generally considered to be a healthier option than grain-fed. It's also better for the environment; grazing animals require no tilling of fields, and deposit their manure naturally, reducing their carbon footprint as compared to the inputs required for growing grain. Grazing animals can also co-exist with wildlife, unlike grain monocultures.

In the case of meat "grass fed" most often applies to beef and lamb. Per pound, grass fed beef and lamb has less total fat, and therefore fewer calories. The nutritional content of that fat is also different. Grass fed beef has as much as five times the amount of omega-3 fatty acids as grain fed beef.

In the case of dairy the label refers to the animal the milk comes from, most usually cows, but also commonly goats.

Both meat and dairy from grass fed animals contain 300–500% more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) than from animals fed grain. The links below point to discussions of the benefits of these fatty acids. Vitamin and mineral content are also improved when no grain is consumed.

However in Canada nothing can be assumed from a label claiming "grass fed". Although in the U.S. it's a term regulated by the USDA to certify that the cattle or sheep are not fed any grain, in Canada there is no such regulation, either federally or provincially. In fact, no limit is placed on the amount of grain fed!

The Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) organization — "a farmer-funded and farmer-run organization (not a government body)" — proposed a national Standard in 2019. But the Milk Boards of the provinces did not accept it, and no certifying body was assigned. The Standard allowed 25% of the cow's diet to consist of grains and supplements. The refusal of the provincial Milk Boards eliminated even this upper limit. "Grass Fed" in Canada means nothing.

And unless the product is certified Organic, the "grain and supplements" may be practically anything. Certainly it can have been sprayed with pesticide, and may even be GMO, as would almost certainly be the case with beet pulp supplementation for example.

There are already documented environmental risks from GE crops, including the transfer of engineered traits to neighboring crops, effects on non-target insects, impacts on soil ecology, and potential threats to endangered species, among others. The genetic engineering industry objects to restrictions on environmental release of GE crops, claiming that it is impossible to meet farmer and consumer demands to keep these crops out of the natural food stream. Pharm crops raise all these environmental concerns, with even higher stakes for the food supply and the environment.

The publication of a study in 2010, showing that a glyphosate herbicide formulation and glyphosate alone caused malformations in the embryos of Xenopus laevis and chickens through disruption of the retinoic acid signalling pathway, caused scientific and regulatory controversy. Debate centred on the effects of the production and consumption of genetically modified Roundup Ready® soy, which is engineered to tolerate applications of glyphosate herbicide.

Hoping to convince at least one nearby government council to restrict or ban GMO within its jurisdiction, BeeSAFE makes one more presentation, this time a 10-minute summary to Coldstream Municipal Council. Download the attached file "Talking points for a presentation" for the text used in this presentation.

Information to Present to your council or director regarding becoming

Genetically Engineered (GE) or Genetically Modified (GM) Crop FREE

GM Crops are designed to use chemicals that damage the environment, exterminates biodiversity, and threatens public health.

1. Most GM crops are designed to have 2 traits: 1 – to resist the herbicide Roundup – called Roundup Ready Crops, and 2 – to produce an insecticide throughout the whole plant – called Bt crops.
2. Roundup's active ingredient is Glyphosate. Contrary to claims from corporations, glyphosate does not disappear but remain in the soil, enters underground and above ground waterways, killing beneficial organisms and negatively affecting aquatic and soil life.
3. Glyphosate is linked to spontaneous abortions in livestock, cancers and birth defects in humans.
4. The new book called “A World in one Cubic Foot” shows that the more than 150 different soil plants and animals that aerate the soil, pollinate, nourish and suppress disease in plants, completely absent in GM corn fields.

GM Crops grown in our area.

1. GM corn grown is already widely grown and GM canola test plots have been grown all over the riding.
2. GM corn grown here is “roundup ready” meaning fields can be drenched with Roundup, killing every plant except the corn. Bt corn is not yet grown here because we are not yet fighting the corn borer but it will likely come due to warming seasons.
3. At the moment, GM Roundup Ready crops are also sprayed with various insecticides proven to be toxic particularly to fetuses and banned in Europe, such as Lorsban (Chlorpyrifos) .

GM Contamination and New GM Crops:

1. GM crops contaminate wild and cultivated plants of the same species. I would guess it would be impossible already to find non GM corn in our area. Tests from CBAN have shown that 33% of all sweet corn sold in farmers' markets and stores in BC and Ontario are contaminated.
2. NON-GM canola and NON GM soy are almost impossible to find anywhere in the world.
3. Mexico has now banned all GM Corn in order to try and protect corn genetics and the in the US. Oregon's Governor John Kitzhabe signed into law a bill banning commercial production of canola (rapeseed) until 2019 inside the three million acre Willamette Valley Protected District, one of the world’s pre-eminent vegetable seed producing regions.
4. GM Alfalfa, the GM arctic apple, and GM pharmacrops, plants genetically altered to generate pharmaceuticals such as vaccines, blood thinners, insulin, right inside the plant are next to be approved in Canada. Pharmaceuticals could be grown inside existing or new GM crops.

Our Community's future:

1. Farmers who welcomed GM crops were not immoral because they didn't realize the negative impacts those crops would have. Now that they know about the contamination and the fact that by using those crops they remove everyone else's right to grow organic or non GM crops, it is immoral to continue.
2. At least 5 companies in Canada sell non GM corn seeds and it has been proven that non GM crops are less costly to grow.
3. Conventional corn crops can also be very damaging to the environment and public health if they continue with the whole pesticide regime so shifting to ecological farming should be strongly encouraged.
4. Ontario Farmers and BC orchardists have already taken position against GM alfalfa and GM apple.
5. People are looking for rural areas where they can be safe from GM contamination which is why now more than 60 BC areas have declared their intention to be GE Free, making sure they can attract farming that is positive for the region, reducing water pollution and increasing soil fertility.

What YOU can do:

1. You can declare our community's intention to be GE Free and make it illegal to bring in any new GM Crop while giving existing GM crop farmers 3 years to transition to non GM Crops.
2. This will tell chemical corporations such as ....and GM crop farmers to stay away and will attract organic growers and families looking for healthy environments.
3. It will also protect our community from inevitable legal challenges such as organic farmers who are prevented or restricted from growing due to GM contamination, as well as the legal rights of citizens whose air, groundwater and soil is being contaminated by poisonous substances such as Roundup and Lorsban (Chlorpyrifos) used on Canola test plots near schools,
4. How are Roundup Ready crops and the pesticides they use this affecting our water supply? Water treatment plants do not removes pesticides, herbicides, and most agricultural chemicals.
5. The contamination issues, the harm to the environment and the risks to public health are the reasons that 60% of BC politicians want to make BC completely GE Free.

Therefore we are asking council to take a stand against the planting of New GM crops and declare its intention to protect organic and conventional growers by shifting its agriculture to Non GM crops.

In a good sterile potting mix, moisten soil, fill containers (either pots or flats), tap the side to compact the soil slightly.  Make shallow or deep depressions into the soil with your finger, or some implement, depending on the seed being planted (remember seeds should be planted no deeper that twice the diameter of the seed).  Cover the seed with a little soil and firm to insure good contact between soil and seed.   Water carefully, being sure seeds aren’t exposed or washed out of their soil  Keep soil moist but not wet as the seeds start to germinate.

Seeds require warmth, moisture, and light in addition to soil to grow.  Find a warm spot in the house, the top of the refrigerator or a sunny window sill to start your seeds.  Some seeds need  higher temperatures to germinate (peppers, eggplants) and you may need seedling heating mats with thermostatic control if you don’t have somewhere in your house with these warmer conditions.    Once the seedlings have germinated, they need light.  Remember to turn your plants every day or two so the light doesn’t bend the stems too far in one direction.  Lightly water when the soil surface dries with room temperature water.  Florescent lights suspended over the plants in a warm (21°C) location 5-10cm above the growing tips of the plants is the best situation unless you have a greenhouse.

Pot up seedlings when they have their true leaves into pots to allow for root development.  Do not feed, over-water or over-heat these transplants, just ensure they are planted into a balanced organic potting soil and have sufficient access to even light.    Harden off these transplants by bringing them outside during the day and in at night to accustom them to the outdoors for 3 or 4 days prior to planting into the garden.   Don’t harden plants if it’s too windy or cold.

Plant into the garden, in settled weather, into a shovel scoop hole filled with compost.  It is helpful to ensure plants have sufficient micronutrients by watering in with fish fertilizer, liquid kelp, or something from the ocean which contains those necessary minerals and micronutrients which will help to sustain growth.

Use leaves, grasses, weeds, crop and flower garden trimmings as well as kitchen parings other than meat scraps (which will attract vermin). Turn every week (the compost, that is) to encourage microbial activity, for a minimum of 90 days to ensure good quality. If you can, use a termperature probe to check temperatures, and turn when temperatures fall. Cover if cold or wet, water when dry.

It should form a ball in your fist, but not be dripping wet. Use it to ‘innoculate’ your planting area and transplant holes.