Health Ministers must not leave us 'Eating in the Dark'
11 December 2011 The Food Regulation Ministerial Council met recently to adopt key recommendations of the National Food Labelling review report, Labelling Logic. We rallied outside, calling for the adoption of the Review's recommendations to label all foods with no track record in the human food supply - Julia Gillard was there and saw our message.
Cropwatch update in gardening magazine
16 November 2011 We have provided an update of our GM Cropwatch arm and contamination issues in Australia, as well a good summary of the issues and looking at what people can do about GM, for Vol 2 No 5, October/November Issue of Good Gardening Magazine.
National Food Plan leaflet & rally call for new approach
31 October 2011 Gene Ethics and supporters rallied outside a Rural Press Club address by Agriculture Minister Joe Judwig, calling for a break from business as usual regarding the Natonal Food Plan and revealing business links.
Japanese send WA 'please explain' on GM canola
10 October 2011The Japanese Seikatsu Club Consumers Co-operative Union and the Green Co-op Consumers Co-operative Union wrote to West Australian Premier Colin Barnett, Food and Agriculture Minister Terry Redman and Co-operative Bulk Handlers (CBH) asking for safeguards on GM-free canola supplies but received no response.
A delegation of the co-ops from October 12-18 will seek government and industry action to ensure the continued availability of non-GM canola from WA, the leading Australian canola exporting state.
We're suing our food regulator
16 September 2011In Gene Ethics and the Safe Food Institute vs Food Standards Australia NZ (FSANZ), a writ was filed in the federal court in Melbourne today. The court issued directions today for a trial on November 14, 2011 where the applicants will claim FSANZ did not comply with the law which required it to give proper public notice of its application for a general review of irradiation food standard 1.5.3. FSANZ also now admits that it had previously made its own general revisions to Food Standard 1.5.2 on genetically manipulated foods.
Food Plan & labelling comments
05 September 2011We have been busy this past week making submissions to the National Food Plan and also providing comments to the Blewett labelling review regarding the Hierarchy Framework Issues.
GM contamination rampant at canola spill site
15 August 2011 WA farmer Geoff Reed has seen flocks of parrots feeding on GM canola seed outside his front fence in Williams. The seed, which spilled last week, is now germinating on the roadside after rain. Also today we have had confirmation of new rogue GM canola roadside weeds in NSW.
New leaflet: GM canola is a scam
Truck fire spills GM canola at Williams, WA
11 August 2011Several tonnes of genetically manipulated (GM) canola were spilled at Williams WA, this week. A fire split the truck trailer and GM canola seed spilled along the roadway and verges.
National Food Plan submissions extended but public input sidelined
08 August 2011 We welcome Minister Joe Ludwig's decision to listen to numerous groups who have lobbied for an extension of the deadline for submissions to the National Food Plan. However we are continuing to call for greater public input, since public hearings are limited to invitation-only roundtable meetings with just 15 invitees at each.
Steve Marsh launches test case
28 July 2011 Decertified organic grower Steve Marsh has retained Slater & Gordon to launch the Australian test case to try to regain his livelihood after GM canola contaminated his farm.
GM wheat protests gain momentum
15 July 2011 GM wheat could be commercially grown in Australia - the first country in the world - by 2015 - don't be lulled into thinking we have 7-10 years away before any action is necessary. GM wheat has been big in the media this month.
Support our Annual Appeal
16 June 2011 We are launching our annual appeal. Read about what we have achieved, hear from some of our supporters and please help us at this important time.
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We have no choice but to unite to resist the relentless nightmare of genetic modification, especially of food crops. GM is fast-becoming an insidious threat to health, lifestyles and our democratic rights
- Gardener & TV personality Peter Cundall
Grain traders snub GM canola
26 May 2011 Major grain traders have revealed they will not buy GM canola because of market rejection.
GM-free successes in Western Australia
26 May 2011 Gene Ethics played a key role in successful GM-free Australia Alliance meetings in Western Australia recently, to plan GM-free strategies for the coming year and to support decertified organic grower Steve Marsh.
GM crops and foods: promises, profits and politics
15 April 2011 Gene Ethics director Bob Phelps provides a comprehensive reality check against the continual promises of the biotechnology industry. This Farm Policy Journal Autumn 2011 feature covers a vast range of topics, from "feed the world" myths to revolving doors of influence and the current situation in Australia, with reference to GM contaminated farmer Steve Marsh and other issues.
$50 premium for non-GM canola confirmed
08 March 2011A surge in market premiums for non-GM canola has left many wondering why West Australian Agriculture Minister Terry Redman encourages farmers to plant GM canola.
Labelling report betrays shoppers
02 February 2011The national food labeling review report issued on Friday ignores public demand for full labelling of all foods made using Genetic Manipulation (GM) techniques.
Use research to drought-proof our farms and protect our food security - we speak at Govt inquiry
26 November 2010Healthy economies are based on healthy rural ecologies and communities and they're not produced in corporate laboratories
In his concise oral evidence to the Productivity Commission's inquiry into rural R&D, Gene Ethics director Bob Phelps considers a range of topics, including the role of farmers as custodians of our land, the need for sustainable agriculture as limits to our growth increases the cost of oil-dependent and phosphate-limited resources, superweeds resulting from overuse of Monsanto's herbicide Roundup, the buy-up of public assets by biotechnology multinationals and the fact that most Australians are directly fed not by the production of mass-produced food commodities for export by a minority of large-scale farmers but by the 80 per cent of farmers, who produce clean, green food for consumption within Australia.
SA GM canola 'trials' threatening GM-free status
09 November 2010Bayer Cropscience has applied to 'trial' genetically manipulated herbicide tolerant canola at 21 sites of up to 6 hectares each, in Victoria and 'GM-free' South Australia, from January 2011. The South Australian government has granted the proposed 'trials' an exemption from the ban on GM canola, in force until 2014 at least.
GM soy linked to birth defects, cancer: new study
06 October 2010Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup used on genetically manipulated Roundup Ready crops is linked to human cell death, birth defects, cancer and miscarriages, says a report released at the European Parliament by an international group of scientists. The report comes at a crucial time for Australia, where a popular infant soy formula has tested positive to unlabelled GM soy and corn, and Roundup Ready canola and cotton are grown.
Monsanto eyes Australian wheat
08 September 2010 Tell West Australian Agriculture Minister Terry Redman that you want the leading government public plant breeding program to remain in public hands. Without discussion, Redman has allowed Monsanto to acquire a 19.9% slice of InterGrain and GM wheat will be a priority for the new public private partnership.