Western Australia
January 8, 2009
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Photograph of
TTRIUMPH® hybrid
canola production by Canola Breeders at Bakers Hill, WA,
in 2008 – the first hybrid canola production in WA. Such
production fields could become more common in WA, when
Canola Breeders new Roundup Ready® canola hybrids are
available to WA growers. |
Canola Breeders Research Director,
Assoc Prof Wallace Cowling, has announced his company’s full
support of new genetically modified canola, and other
technologies that improve outcomes for Australian growers and
the environment.
“Canola Breeders of Western
Australia supports the decision of the Western Australian
Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman to allow limited
commercial-size trials for genetically modified (GM) canola to
go ahead in Western Australia in 2009.”
“Canola Breeders is a progressive company, with access to
world-leading technology in many areas. GM canola is a new
option for Western Australian growers to access new traits that
would otherwise be unavailable to them. It also provides another
tool for breeders to improve their efficiency and achieve higher
yields for farmers through traditional breeding methods.”
“GM canola was approved several years ago by the Australian
Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, based on its safety to
humans and the environment. By approving limited commercialsize
trials of the new GM canola in 2009, Mr Redman is indicating
that his government supports the use of new technology that
promotes sustainable agriculture and helps the environment.”
“With this approval, Canola Breeders will be working with
Monsanto to trial our Roundup Ready® canola hybrids in WA under
a research agreement with Monsanto Australia in 2009. We have
seen exceptional results with our research in Victoria and New
South Wales in 2008,” said Assoc Prof Cowling. “It is time for
WA growers to clearly see the benefit of Roundup Ready® canola
hybrid technology in their own back yards, with improvements
made by our WA-based canola breeding company.”
“Canola Breeders have also developed the world’s first triazine
herbicide tolerant hybrid canola,
TTRIUMPH®
Jardee. TTRIUMPH®
Jardee will be demonstrated to growers in large scale trials
across Australia in 2009 and will compliment our Roundup Ready®
hybrids.”
“GM technology has the potential to increase the sustainability
of Australian farming into the future, through new genes for
insect resistance, or better growth on nutrient deficient or
saline soils.” |
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