The main
impediment to the introduction of new GM crops in
Australia will be market acceptance, according to an
expert forum that met in Canberra today. A majority of
participants at the forum believe that research on GM
crops should continue.
Over 100
representatives from farmers’ organisations, industry,
researchers and government met to discuss the
introduction of two hypothetical, but potentially real,
GM crops: rust-resistant wheat and lucerne that can grow
in acid soils.
Organised
by the Australian Government agency,
Biotechnology
Australia, the forum aimed to map the views of those
for and against the technology and develop models that
could be applied for the introduction of any future GM
crops.
According
to Mr Craig Cormick, the Manager of Public Awareness for
Biotechnology, “The meeting also sought to improve the
quality of debate between the polarised extremes of
attitudes that we see in relation to GM crops. It was
very worthwhile for all players to sit down and listen
to each other’s points of view.”
The
meeting examined five hurdles for the two crops:
segregation, unintended presence, pollen drift,
liability and market access, and listened to speakers
arguing for and against each topic.
“At the
end of the meeting participants were asked to rate the
hurdles, and what the largest obstacles to
commercialisation would be,” Mr Cormick said.
For GM
wheat participants considered the largest obstacle it
had to face was consumer acceptance, with only 13 per
cent of the participants believing end users would
currently accept GM wheat. And for the GM lucerne, 45
per cent of the participants felt end users would accept
GM lucerne, with the largest obstacle being unintended
presence.
Participants at the forum represented most key
agricultural players in Australia, included state
farmers federations, the CSIRO, the Australian Wheat
Board, the Network of Concerned Farmers, Australian
Grain Harvesters and several state governments.
A report
on the forum will be produced. Participants welcomed the
holding of the forum and called for this type of
dialogue to continue to assist the GM debate in
Australia.
