The Canadian Food Inspection Agency authorized the environmental release of ‘SmartStax' but did not assess its environmental risks. Normally, Health Canada posts "Decision Documents" to summarize their approval decisions - but there is no such document for ‘SmartStax'. This implies that no environmental risk assessment was done. There is no public rationale for why the CFIA approved ‘SmartStax' without environmental risk assessment.

 

By inserting new genes into a plant or shuffling existing genes around, scientists can make plants express new traits. For example, particular genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which is toxic to a class of insects, are spliced into corn to create "Bt corn." With the new Bt gene, the corn expresses the Bt toxin, which is its new trait for insect resistance-the pests who nibble the corn will die.

 

Around 82 percent of all GM crops sold in the world are herbicide tolerant and most of the rest are insect resistant. This means that, so far, corporations have only commercialized crops that either survive intensive herbicide sprayings or kill insects. There are two exceptions, virus-resistant papaya and squash, but these are not widely grown.

 

It is expected that ‘SmartStax' will soon replace all of Monsanto's single, double and triple stacked GE crops. This means that farmers who do buy GE seeds will only be able to buy ‘SmartStax', at a higher price. For example, a farmer who wants to buy Monsanto's herbicide tolerant technology will have to buy seeds that incorporate other traits like Bt for insect resistance as well.

 

At present Canadian farmers grow only four genetically modified crops. corn, canola, and soy. Over half of Canada's corn and soy is genetically modified, as is almost all of our canola. We eat all three as processed food ingredients such as corn starch, soy lethicin (found in chocolate bars, for example), and canola oil., the dairy and meat we might consume.

 

Dedicated resistance from both farmers and consumers needs to continue if we want to protect organic food, our environment, our health, and our ability to choose how our food is produced and what we feed our families.

 

Avoiding GM foods

 

 

You can avoid GM foods when you: eat certified organic food, because GM is prohibited in organic farming.

Check processed food ingredients to avoid corn, canola, and soy ingredients .

 

Eat certified organic meat or 100 percent grass-fed meat, and choose organic eggs and dairy products.