It's been 20 years since genetically engineered (GE; also called genetically modified or GM) crops and foods were first introduced into Canada.

Only 4 GE crops are currently grown in Canada:

canola

corn

soy

sugar beet (white sugar beet for sugar processing)

These 4 crops end up on our grocery store shelves as processed food ingredients and are also widely used for animal feed and to make biofuels. These crops are engineered to be either insect resistant or herbicide tolerant, and many now carry both traits.

We could also be importing a small amount of:

5. GE papaya (from Hawaii)

6. GE squash - some varieties of yellow crookneck squash (from the US)

7. GE cottonseed oil

8. milk products from the US made with the use of recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone