The prospect of a nuclear power station in northeast Alberta has farmers worried. (Lydia Neufeld/CBC)Organizers of a meeting about the effects of nuclear power on food production say the prospect of a reactor in Alberta is a serious worry for farmers.

"I can't in good conscience sell beef that are eating … grass that is being exposed to tritium, which means it will be higher level of radiation than other parts of the country," said Mandy Melnuk, a beef producer who volunteers with the National Farmers Union.

"So this is why we are fighting so hard, it's our livelihoods we're fighting for."

The full-day symposium in Edmonton Monday was organized by the Alberta Organic Producers Association and the NFU.

It was set up in response to a proposal by Bruce Power to build a plant about 30 kilometres north of Peace River. The province has said it will not stand in the way of such a development.

Jeremiah Bickerstaff runs an organic farm in northeast Alberta. He fears he will lose his certification as an organic farmer if a nuclear power plant is built.

"I believe there's a 500-mile radius surrounding this huge plant that will be deemed non-organic, so I will be out of my industry, I guess," said Bickerstaff.

"It's just kind of scary to know everything we've worked for could just be swept under a rug."

The organizers are hoping that the provincial government will hear their concerns and give more consideration to alternative forms of energy such as solar energy and geothermal energy.