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.

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.