April 3, 2003

The Queensland Government has announced it will back Australian ratification of an international treaty on the use of plant genetics, as the treaty will support the world leading research into the development of droung resistant crops.

Primary Minister Henry Palaszczuk said Queensland supported ratification of the international Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture as it aimed to allow access to plant material from International agricultural research centres critical for breeding new varieties. Such access is particularly important to Australia, because the country¹s commercial crop production is almost entirely dependent on introduced species.

Queensland Department of Primary Industries is undertaking research into drought resistance in field crops such as sorghum, wheat, maize, and peanuts as well as assessing alternative crops like pearl millet and guar.

Mr Palaszczuk said this research had the potential to increase returns for growers as well as enable more agricultural land to be sown.