Canberra, Australia
September 25, 2007
USDA/FAS GAIN report AS7045
Report Highlights:
Agriculture Minister
McGauran has released a report, 'GM Canola: An
Information Package', that found Australian farmers stood to
gain significantly from the introduction of GM technology.
Minister McGauran said “with reviews of the moratoriums
under way in four states, Australian farmers will
potentially start growing GM canola from 2008.”
Background
The biotech debate is very
important in Australia. The federal government is very
supportive of the technology, has funded considerable research
and development, and has approved genetically modified (GM)
canola, cotton and flower varieties for general release.
However, in 2003 and 2004 several state governments (Victoria,
NSW, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the ACT)
imposed moratoria on the commercial release of products of
biotechnology (with particular reference to food crops – i.e.
canola). The moratoria are all set to expire or be reviewed in
2008.
In the past few months, Victoria,
Tasmania and New South Wales have all appointed panels to review
the moratoria on commercial plantings of genetically modified
food crops in those states.
The Minister for Agriculture, the
National Farmers Federation and the Grains Council of Australia
have all been pushing for the moratoria to be lifted. They all
believe that sufficient time has now passed to evaluate the
protocols, food safety assurances and co-existence practices
that industry would put into place once the bans were lifted.
Further, they believe that Australia is at serious risk of being
left behind as a competitive agricultural exporter if full
advantage of this technology is not taken.
Currently in Australia, about 90
percent of the cotton planted is from biotech varieties, which
were approved for release prior to the state moratoria. In June
207, an application to conduct the first Australian field trial
of genetically modified (GM) wheat was given the green light by
the Federal Gene Technology Regulator. The trial of the new GM
wheat lines, which have been modified for drought tolerance,
will take place at two sites in Victoria.
New Report Released Supporting
GM Canola
An August 12 media report (DAFF
077/113PM) states Australian farmers and consumers can find the
information they need to make informed decisions about GM canola
in a new report released on August 12 by the Minister for
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Peter McGauran.
Mr. McGauran said that GM Canola –
an information package, commissioned by the Australian
Government, brought together a wide range of current
information.
“Covering everything from
regulation, supply chain management and market acceptance of GM
crops to agronomic, economic and legal liability issues at farm
level, this package is intended to make a well-informed
contribution to the current debate about the GM crops,” Mr.
McGauran said.
“With reviews of the moratoriums
under way in four states, Australian farmers will potentially
start growing GM canola from 2008.”
Mr. McGauran said the report found
that Australian farmers stood to gain significantly from the
introduction of GM technology.
“The study concludes that
Australia’s main competitor, Canada, has been growing GM canola
for 10 years without any appreciable loss of market share or
prices, while enjoying significant agronomic benefits,” Mr.
McGauran said.
“It also found that GM canola
offers some solutions to the problems facing conventional canola
in Australia and is likely to make a valuable contribution to
farming systems once farmers are able to access the technology
and adopt it to their individual circumstances.”
Key points in the report are:
- Canola is an important
crop in Australian winter crop rotations;
- Canola has benefits for
farming enterprises beyond the direct returns the crop
generates. Other crops in the rotation benefit from the weed
control and disease management options canola provides;
- Weed resistance to
conventional canola chemicals and disease pressures are
threatening canola’s contribution to farming systems in
Australia.
The report was produced by the
consultancy firm ACIL Tasman.
“This report adds further weight
to the argume nt that State Governments should immediately lift
their moratoriums on GM crops so that Australian farmers can
have access to the benefits of this technology,” Mr. McGauran
said.
“Australian farmers are extremely
efficient and innovative producers, but to remain
internationally competitive, need to be able to compete.”
The report is available at
http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/biotechnology.
Farmer Groups Support Lifting
of Bans
The National Farmers' Federation
is calling for the State Governments to drop their moratoria on
genetically modified crops and seize the opportunities gene
technology offers Australia's agricultural production base. The
NFF says GM varieties offer better and more droughtresistant
crops, and will improve the industry's long-term economic
efficiency and international competitiveness. NFF says
Australian farmers have been left behind in an
international market that has already embraced GM as safe and
viable science.
"What was once a prudent 'wait and
see' policy is no longer viable," NFF president David Crombie
said. "The science is in … the world has moved on from the
traditional and overtly emotional arguments against GM crops.”
"Australia now must play catch up
– and do so quickly – to ensure we win a much greater share of
world markets, opportunities which until the GM moratoria are
scrapped, will continue to pass us by.”
"Farmers must have the opportunity
to adopt the method of production best suited to their
customers' needs – be that GM, conventional, organic or any
combination of these methods." While pushing for the State
moratoria to be lifted, the NFF says the production decisions of
one farmer should not unreasonably impinge on the ability of
other farmers in meeting the requirements and expectations of
the market they chose to meet.
"The NFF is satisfied appropriate
Australian safeguards exist to ensure food safety
Other news
from Australia's Agriculture Ministry |
