April 3, 2003

Amidst claims that genetically modified (GM) herbicide resistant canola could drive Australian canola
and wheat production $135 million higher, Western Australian graingrowers are expected to flock to a GM Biotechnology Tour visiting regional centres next week.

The Grains Council of Australia (GCA) is supporting the free seminars at Esperance (April 7), Katanning (April 8), Mingenew (April 9) and Northam (April 10).

GCA President Keith Perrett said the GM debate was often dominated by conjecture about the
productivity and financial implications of introducing GM systems, but the figures just released by
University of Melbourne researcher, Dr Robert Norton, would help frame the argument.

“Although Dr Norton’s figures are contingent on specific scenarios, they suggest that GM varieties could lift the average Australian canola yield by more then eight per cent.

“Those attending the seminars can therefore discuss GM issues within this context and then investigate and discuss all aspects of Biotechnology,” Mr Perrett said.

With more than 90 per cent of Western Australia’s canola produce exported, the seminars will address GM and the international market. Western Australia Department of Agriculture researcher and author of a recent report on GM marketing, Ann Morcom, will speak at all dates.

Although her report suggests that European Union countries such as Belgium-Luxembourg, Germany
and the Netherlands are high risk markets due to consumer concern on GM food safety, she notes that, on average, less than one per cent of Western Australia canola exports currently go to these countries.

Of Western Australia’s 2001/2002 canola exports, 99.9 per cent went to countries currently investing heavily in their own GM cropping research.

Speakers from CSIRO, Murdoch University, CBH, Farm Horizons and Export Grains Centre will
address the seminars.