Two city officials on Friday proposed a largely symbolic measure calling for a ban on genetically modified crops within Los Angeles city limits.

Councilmen Paul Koretz and Mitch O’Farrell said they were introducing the measure to bring attention to the problems created with genetically modified crops and related dangers to the environment, including a nationwide loss of honey bees.

“There is not much agriculture left in Los Angeles, which I think is one of the reasons we have a strong honey bee population,” Koretz said.

California voters last year rejected Proposition 37, an initiative to require the labeling of genetically modified food.

O’Farrell said he was supporting a measure that would allow beekeeping in back yards to help improve the honey bee population.

“We have a grass-roots movement aimed at allowing backyard beekeeping,” O’Farrell said.

Koretz said the importance of the proposal is having Los Angeles go on record in support of banning genetically modified products.

“This sends a message to the rest of the state and the rest of the country,” Koretz said.