More than a dozen Canadian farm organizations have signed a letter opposed to genetically modified alfalfa. The modified traits are for glyphosate-tolerance and low-lignin.

Lisa Mumm is with Canada Organic Trade Association. She and her family farm west of Prince Albert, SK, where they own an organic seed company called Mumm's Sprouting Seeds. Mumm worries Canada's organic sector could be seriously harmed by GM alfalfa.

"Alfalfa is a really important for conventional and organic farmers," Mumm said. "Specifically for organic farmers, we use it in our crop rotation, it helps us to build our soil, it fixes nitrogen for us, it's and important feed for livestock and dairy. Right across the organic value chain, we see farmers using alfalfa, so it could have quite a detrimental impact on farmers across the country."

Part of the concern is that GM alfalfa may be hard to contain and could potentially contaminate organic or non-GM fields, which could also have a broader effect on export markets.

Fifteen Canadian farm organizations in total have signed the letter asking the federal agriculture minister to remove variety registration for all GM alfalfa until a full economic impact assessment is done. The list includes groups like the National Farmers Union and Forage Seed Canada.

"The economic impact on farmers really needs to be part of the variety registration assessment," Mumm added. "Not only do organic consumers reject genetically modified technology but also for the conventional farmers that are opposed to GM-alfalfa. This is really concerning for them because they have export markets around the world that have said, 'No we will not accept GM alfalfa,' so it's very worrisome for them."

Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association was not one of the organizations to sign the letter, however executive director Duncan Morrison says they remain opposed to GM alfalfa.

"We're well aware of the situation, and we're monitoring any new information coming forward and we'll continue to do so as more research becomes available," he says.

Meanwhile, Heather Kerschbaumer from Forage Seed Canada says that introducing GM alfalfa could result in a loss of export markets. The National Farmers Union (NFU) is calling for a ban on the cultivation of genetically modified alfalfa.