Western Australia
April 20, 2009
A
Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) funded
research project, ‘Gene flow in transgenic Roundup Ready (RR)
Canola’, will work alongside 20 genetically modified (GM) canola
trials, covering 854 hectares, in Western Australia (WA) this
season.
Internationally recognised expert on herbicide resistance in
crops and weeds, Professor Stephen Powles, Director of the WA
Herbicide Resistance Initiative (WAHRI) at The University of
Western Australia (UWA) and WAHRI researcher,
Dr Roberto Busi, will drive the WA component of this five year
national project.
Professor Powles said the GRDC project, which started in eastern
Australia in 2008, will begin in WA this year and would address
concerns expressed by some about the potential for gene flow
from GM Canola to nearby canola crops.
While gene flow studies have already been completed in
imidazolinone tolerant or Clearfield canola, the commercial
release of GM RR canola allows the field studies on pollen flow
and impacts on weed populations to be completed in a GM
situation.
“Although the Australian Gene Technology Regulator has approved
RR canola as safe to humans and the environment, the first field
trials of RR canola in WA in 2009 offer a welcome opportunity to
more fully understand how GM canola can best be used in WA
cropping and to address any lingering community concerns,” he
said.
Professor Powles said that while canola was mostly a
self-pollinated crop, cross pollination via insects and/or wind
could occur.
“This new three state, GRDC supported project will fully
investigate the potential for gene flow in RR canola and other
questions on GM canola,” Professor Powles said.
The GRDC project is led by Chief Investigators, Professor Rick
Roush, The University of Melbourne, Professor Powles, UWA and
Associate Professor Chris Preston, The University of Adelaide.
RR canola has been successfully commercially grown in Canada,
USA and Argentina for more than a decade, but only commenced in
Australia in 2008 in NSW and Victoria, where at least 100,000
hectares of RR canola is likely to be grown this year.
Australian Oilseeds Federation and GRDC have released a booklet,
‘GM Canola – Performance and Experiences in 2008’, which
presents 13 grower case studies, four trials and an independent
Better Canola demonstration of RR canola in its first year in
NSW and Victoria. It’s available from www.australianoilseeds.com
or
ground-cover-direct@canprint.com.au or free phone 1800 11 00 44.
A main reason why growers planted RR canola was better weed
management options.
The GRDC’s Dr Andreas Betzner described GM herbicide resistant
canola as “another tool in the weed management toolbox” for many
growers:
“Those who’ve grown it seem to be generally happy with the
technology, so it’s not surprising an increase in the area
planted to GM herbicide resistant canola across Victoria and NSW
is expected this year.” |
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