Australia
August 31, 2007
More than 80 per cent of
Australian canola growers and advisers would consider growing
genetically modified (GM) canola to improve weed control and
help manage herbicide resistance in weed populations. It is
believed Australian canola production may increase if herbicide
tolerant GM varieties replace the conventionally-bred triazine
tolerant (TT) varieties that are popular in Australia but have
lower yield potential.
These findings, from a recent survey of grower attitudes to
genetically modified crops, throw the current reviews of the
State government moratoria on production of GM canola into stark
relief. More than 45 per cent of the 142 growers and advisers
interviewed would seriously consider growing Roundup Ready® or
Liberty Link (InVigor®) canola if it was available and a further
37 per cent said they might consider growing it.
Seventeen per cent said they would not consider growing a GM
herbicide-resistant canola variety. The survey, by the Better
Canola project and Insightrix on behalf of the Grains Research
and Development Corporation and the Australian Oilseeds
Federation, found that more than 60 per cent of canola growers
currently use TT varieties that yield around 13 per cent less
than conventional varieties. Farmers grow canola mainly for its
benefits in the crop rotation, to control weeds and manage
herbicide resistance.
Oilseeds Industry Development Officer Felicity Pritchard said
many growers had expressed interest in GM herbicide-resistant
varieties because they would help control difficult weeds,
provide more options to rotate herbicide groups and open the way
for use of lower-risk herbicides to better manage
herbicide-resistant weeds.
Better Canola coordinator Steve Marcroft expects a major
increase in canola production in Australia if GM
herbicide-resistant varieties replace the current TT types.
"If most of the TT varieties currently grown were replaced with
GM varieties the industry should see a large increase in
production," he said. |
|
