Lake Valley Seed, located in Boulder, Colo., is a major sponsor of Denver’s Plant a Row for the Hungry Program. Every season the company provides thousands of packets of fruit, vegetable and herb seeds for hundreds of home gardeners who promise to donate some of their harvest to neighbors in need.
As I was sorting through the seed box for the upcoming campaign, I noticed a new addition to the front of Lake Valley Seed packets – a NON-GMO label that also identifies the contents as “untreated seed.”
Bev Yates, the company’s national marketing manager, says the non-GMO label is in answer to customer’s concerns about planting genetically modified seeds in their home gardens.
To set the record straight, there are currently no genetically modified garden seeds available for sale to the general public. Not from Lake Valley or other seed companies selling to home gardeners.
Some GMO crops are grown in the U.S., but these are production crops like field corn, soy, canola, and sugar beets. In fact, the actual number of different GMO plant species is much less than people think. There are fewer than 10 different genetically modified plant species currently available as fresh produce or part of a processed food product in our markets.
Because some seed-related terms can be confusing, Lake Valley Seed produced a brochure as a guide to help consumers understand the difference between hybrid, open pollinated, heirloom, GMO, and organic seeds.
One of the key points is that hybrid plants aren’t the same as GMOs. “Hybrid seeds come from pollen exchange within the same species, directed by human hands. GMO seeds are genetically engineered by modifying genes from unrelated species in a laboratory.”
Here’s a simple guide to help you when choosing vegetable seeds for your next garden:
Hybrid cultivars are produced by cross-pollinating different varieties within the same species. Seeds labeled as hybrid or F1 occurred because breeders wanted plants with a desirable trait, like disease resistance. If seeds from hybrids are saved to grow again, the plants will revert back to one of the parent plants.
Open Pollinated varieties are seeds produced through natural pollination, without any help from humans. Seeds saved from open pollinated plants will regrow the same plant each time.
Heirloom seeds describes open pollinated varieties that have been passed along across generations. It’s interesting to note “while all heirloom seeds are open pollinated, not all open pollinated seeds are heirloom,” according to the Lake Valley Seed brochure. Heirloom seeds can be saved to grow again.
Organic seeds are those that are grown and processed following the standards set by the USDA’s National Organic Program. The “USDA ORGANIC” label on seed packets assures gardeners the seeds were grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides or genetically engineered seeds and materials.
Treated seeds are those coated with a chemical, like a fungicide or pesticide. Treated seeds are identified by their label or the color of seeds and are not organic seeds. Some gardeners choose to plant treated seeds, like beets, so they can avoid problems due to soilborne pathogens.
If you have any concerns about the seeds you’re buying for the next gardening season, check to see if the company has taken the Safe Seed Pledge. Seed companies, like Lake Valley, take the pledge as a way to assure gardeners they aren’t buying GMO seed.
One of the key parts of the pledge, created by the Council for Responsible Genetics in 1991, is that companies taking the pledge stand by this promise: “For the benefit of all farmers, gardeners and consumers who want an alternative, we pledge that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants.”
FAQs
For gardeners, there is no one selling genetically engineered seeds to home gardeners. Seed companies put a lot of money and effort in to producing their GM crops.
What are the problems with GMO seeds? ›
Environmental concerns include : the risk of outcrossing, where genes from GMO foods pass into wild plants and other crops. a negative impact on insects and other species. reduction in other plant types, leading to a loss of biodiversity.
Can farmers replant GMO seeds? ›
However, when farmers purchase GMO seed, they enter into contracts with seed companies and sign an agreement to purchase new seed each year and not save seed from their crops to plant the following year.
What are the 3 biggest seed companies that carry develop GMO seeds? ›
Biotech companies like Monsanto, Dow, Dupont and Syngenta create not only GMO seeds, but an entire system of food production.
How to tell if your seeds are GMO? ›
If you have any concerns about the seeds you're buying for the next gardening season, check to see if the company has taken the Safe Seed Pledge. Seed companies, like Lake Valley, take the pledge as a way to assure gardeners they aren't buying GMO seed.
What vegetable seeds are GMO? ›
GMO vegetable seeds do not exist and are not available to backyard gardeners. There are only eight crops commercially available as GMOs: corn, soybeans, papaya, cotton, squash, canola, alfalfa and sugarbeets.
What are the cons of planting GMO seeds? ›
On the other hand, the use of GMOs brings risks, such as:
- Changes in the interaction between plant and biotic environment: Persistence and invasiveness; ...
- Changes in the interaction between plant and abiotic environment: Alterations in Greenhouse Gas Emissions; ...
- Harm to human or animal health: Toxicological effects;
The vast majority of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) grown in the U.S. are engineered to produce their own pesticides, or survive direct application of pesticides. For example, Monsanto's Roundup Ready crops are engineered to survive direct application of glyphosate (the primary ingredient in Roundup).
Why can't farmers save Monsanto seeds? ›
It is true that patented GMO seeds are often protected by intellectual property rules, meaning farmers must pledge not to save them and replant. Monsanto says it has sued about 150 farmers who it claims broke these rules over the past 20 years.
What are 3 negatives of GMOs? ›
The main concerns around GMOs involve allergies, cancer, and environmental issues — all of which may affect the consumer.
It seems highly unlikely that all of these can be random coincidence." They point out that according to "the American Academy of Environmental Medicine's position paper on genetically modified (GM) foods: '[S]everal animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food consumption including infertility, ...
Why is replanting seeds illegal? ›
Legality. While saving seed and even exchanging seed with other farmers for biodiversity purposes has been a traditional practice, these practices have become illegal for the plant varieties that are patented or otherwise owned by some entity (often a corporation).
What crops are most commonly grown as GMO seeds? ›
What GMO crops are in the United States?
- Corn: Corn is the most commonly grown crop in the United States, and most of it is GMO. ...
- Soybean: Most soy grown in the United States is GMO soy. ...
- Cotton: ...
- Potato: ...
- Papaya: ...
- Summer Squash: ...
- Canola: ...
- Alfalfa:
Monsanto products have been found to be toxic to the environment and human health. Overuse and misuse of pesticides and synthetic fertilisers have significant impacts on ecosystems and the health of farmers and their communities.
Is Burpee owned by Monsanto? ›
Atlee Burpee & Co. Burpee is NOT owned by Monsanto. We do NOT sell GMO seed, never have in the past, and will not sell it in the future.
What company is the leader in genetically engineered seed? ›
Monsanto produces seed that has multiple genetic modifications, also known as "stacked traits"—for instance, cotton that make one or more Bt proteins and is resistant to glyphosate.
What are seeds called that are not GMO? ›
Organic seeds are non-GMO which means that these seeds cannot be modified genetically in any way. However, you can produce hybrids using organic seeds by cross-pollinating with other varieties to get the best attributes of each variety.
What is the problem with GMO seeds? ›
1. Development of resistant weeds and insects Farmers may worry that their use of GM seeds will create "superweeds" or "superbugs" that, over time, become resistant to GM seeds and crops and to other herbicides and pesticides.
How do you test GMO seeds? ›
Two testing methods are considered to be the most effective for detecting GMOs: DNA-based and protein-based methods. DNA-based GMO testing analyzes the genome of a plant to identify the presence of a genetic modification. EnviroLogix uses a patented technology called DNAble to perform DNA-based detection of GMOs.
How do you identify GMO vegetables? ›
Identify how produce is grown by reading its label or sticker number.
- 4-digit number means food was conventionally grown.
- 5-digit number that begins with a 9 means produce is organic.
- 5-digit number that begins with an 8 means it is genetically modified. (
If a food item isn't organic or doesn't have a Non-GMO Project seal, avoid products that come from the most common GMO crops. This includes corn, soy, canola, papaya, zucchini and yellow summer squash, sugar beets and cottonseed.
Are burpee vegetable seeds non GMO? ›
Burpee is proud to provide you with 100% non-GMO seeds of the highest quality.
What are the disadvantages of heirloom seeds? ›
Most heirloom seeds are more vulnerable to diseases because commercial seeds are usually bred specifically for disease resistance. Heirloom seeds also have lower yields than hybrids, which can be a disadvantage for farmers and home growers with limited space.
Are GMO seeds available to the public? ›
If it doesn't say "heirloom", it's GMO. Other than plants that are available at large retailers, GMO seeds aren't available, because their use is typically contractually regulated. Like you'll be able to use the seeds, but you can't save seeds from the crop to use again, because it's not in the contract.
Is it illegal to use GMO seeds? ›
Legality of Selling GMO Seeds or GMO-Contaminated Seeds
If you're a market gardener and GMO seeds cross-pollinate with your crops, you can now legally not sell your crops unless you test them for the genetics of those seeds. This is actually something that has happened with Monsanto's patented GMO corn.
How to get GMO seeds? ›
Only farmers and large commercial agencies can buy GMO seeds for commercial use. While some home gardening seeds are labelled “GMO-free”, this is simply a marketing tactic, as all garden seeds are GMO-free. In horticulture, selective breeding is used, which is different from creating GMO seed.
Can you buy seeds that are not genetically modified? ›
Renee's Garden is a small company run by gardeners, for gardeners. They offer only non-GMO varieties that are very special for home gardeners, based on great flavor, easy culture and exceptional garden performance.
