Japan Suspends Imports of Canada Wheat After GMO Discovery

On Friday, Japan suspended its tender and sale of wheat from Canada after plants containing a genetically modified trait were discovered last summer in southern Alberta.  Canadian officials announced last week the wheat containing a GMO trait was discovered along an access road.  The wheat in questions was reportedly developed by Monsanto to tolerate Roundup.

Canada is one of the world's largest wheat exporters.  Japan is Canada's second largest global market for wheat, taking $598.6 million worth in 2016.

A similar discovery in an Oregon field prompted Japan and South Korea to suspend American wheat shipments in 2013.  A similar GMO wheat was discovered in Washington in 2016, creating minor problems for Northwest wheat exports.

While other crops, such as corn and soybeans, have been widely genetically modified to improve yield or withstand threats, GMO wheat has not been approved anywhere for commercial production because of concerns by consumers.

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