Farmer Dallas Leduc eagerly anticipates the arrival of a genetically modified mustard variety designed to thrive in his sandy, heat-stressed soil in Saskatchewan, a region once deemed too dry for farming. As a fourth-generation producer managing over 10,000 acres of wheat, durum, mustard, canola, peas, and lentils in an area largely dominated by cattle grazing, Leduc believes this new crop, which yields canola-like oil, could boost his farm’s profitability by generating additional income per acre. “My goal is simply to improve our farm’s bottom line,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Trent Dewar, another farmer in the Canadian semi-arid region known as Palliser’s Triangle, worries that the introduction of this GMO mustard could jeopardize the purity of the mustard he cultivates for premium Dijon mustard producers in France, the United States, Japan, and other specialty markets. The mustard industry, valued at approximately $150 million in annual exports, is modest compared to the $8.9 billion canola export market. However, in areas where canola often struggles to grow, mustard has been a vital crop for farmers for nearly a century.
“Everyone I’ve spoken with is shocked that this GMO variety is even being considered,” Dewar remarked. Mustard remains a niche crop in Canada, with production typically under 200,000 metric tons, grown by a few hundred farmers. Its output fluctuates with global prices and local weather conditions, much like other specialty crops. In contrast, Canadian canola farmers usually plant over 20 million acres, producing more than 19 million metric tons, making canola the country’s leading crop in terms of income.
This scale explains the excitement surrounding the drought-resistant GMO mustard. Agricultural giant BASF aims to secure regulatory approval for commercialization in the U.S. as early as next year, with Canadian approval expected a few years later. However, the GMO mustard closely resembles traditional mustard plants, raising concerns about cross-contamination through wind or pollinators like bees. Both traditional brown and oriental mustards and the new mustard-canola hybrid belong to the species Brassica juncea, allowing them to crossbreed.
“This could potentially destroy an entire industry,” warned Norm Hall, chair of Sask Mustard, which represents Saskatchewan’s mustard growers. The organization is lobbying the Canadian government to prevent the GMO crop’s introduction. Conversely, Brent Collins, head of BASF’s Canadian seeds and traits division, describes the crop as an “innovation” that could unlock new canola acreage and meet growing market demand.
In a significant development, France, which imports about half of its mustard from Canada, maintains strict non-GMO standards. Other major global buyers enforce similar policies. Many Canadian mustard producers fear that any detection of GMO mustard traces could close export markets. “They treat it like finding a razor blade in a bag of rice,” explained Peter Gorski of Broadgrain, a company exporting Canadian specialty crops. Most contracts specify non-GMO compliance, with some explicitly including this clause.
French legislation limits GMO presence in food, but acceptable trace levels are generally determined by buyers. Christophe Planes, sales and marketing director for French mustard processor Reine de Dijon, expressed concern that the GMO mustard could threaten Canadian exports. Approximately half of the company’s seeds come from Canada, and Planes emphasized their firm commitment to a non-GMO policy. “France’s strict GMO regulations mean we rigorously test all supplies to ensure minimal or no traces,” he said.
Following Canada’s severe drought in 2021, which disrupted mustard production and caused shortages on French grocery shelves, France has increased its domestic mustard production. While other suppliers like Argentina, Germany, and Ukraine exist, Canadian mustard is prized for its quality and affordability. Planes noted that switching sources could impact quality and increase prices.
Canadian mustard growers recall a similar crisis with flax in 2009, when traces of a GMO variety called Triffid were found in European food products, causing a collapse in exports that never recovered.
Mustard is an ancient crop, with seeds discovered in Stone Age settlements of the Near East, ancient Sumerian texts, and even the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. It is also referenced in the Bible. In contrast, the mustard-canola hybrid is a modern scientific achievement, combining decades of traditional breeding and genetic modification to produce a plant that yields canola-like oil and resists herbicides controlling tumbleweeds in western North America.
Many farmers in the mustard-growing regions have awaited this development since the 1990s, though the scientific process has been lengthy and complex. Canola thrives in cool northern climates like Canada’s, but climate change-induced heat and drought threaten its viability. Early research on using mustard to produce canola-like seeds was conducted by farmer cooperatives and university scientists in the 1990s. Now, BASF’s InVigor Gold is nearing commercialization.
Industry stakeholders hold sharply contrasting views on whether GMO mustard can coexist with traditional mustard. “We know coexistence is impossible,” said Rick Mitzel, executive director of Sask Mustard. BASF, however, projects that two million acres of mustard-canola could be cultivated in arid regions of Canada and the U.S., implementing measures to prevent pollen and seed contamination between mustard and canola fields.
“We recognize the concerns of mustard growers and are committed to explaining our safeguards to address them,” Collins stated. Although the two groups have met intermittently, tensions have escalated as commercialization approaches. At a recent industry meeting, mustard growers and merchants urged their representatives to pursue legal and political efforts to block InVigor Gold’s introduction. Hall acknowledged this would be an “uphill battle,” as BASF follows standard crop approval protocols, which do not consider market impacts.
Kacy Gehring of Mountain States Oilseeds in Idaho warned that fears of GMO contamination could lead farmers to abandon mustard cultivation altogether, harming both businesses and global culinary traditions. Farmer Leduc empathizes with his neighbors’ concerns but remains determined to plant InVigor Gold as soon as possible. Farming in an arid region is challenging, yet it is where his great-grandfather settled, and he needs every advantage to survive. “I wish I farmed in a wetter part of the province,” he admitted.
