GM farms revealed on our online map
28 July 2010Gene Ethics today launches an online map to help non-GM growers pinpoint those farms where genetically manipulated (GM) canola is growing. The State Government broke its promise to publish a map of all GM farms.
The map publishes information that non-GM farmers need to reduce the risks of GM contamination on their farms and in the food supply. The map plots 14 farmers who publicly said they were growing, or intended to grow, GM canola this year. This is the first season since the ban on commercial GM canola was lifted by the state government.
WA Agriculture Minister Terry Redman told Parliament he would 'accurately reflect the location' of GM farms and was 'happy for GM growers to be identified [on a Government online map]'. But his map shows only the shires where GM canola is grown.
Minister Redman lulled the public and his doubting colleagues into a false sense of security by promising openness then refusing to deliver. Most people do not want GM food or crops. GM canola is being discounted $15 per tonne against GM-free canola in the eastern states.
Our map can help farmers identify possible sources of contamination - without knowing the identity of GM farmers, non-GM farmers have no legal recourse to recover economic loss caused by GM contamination.
To view the Gene Ethics map, go to www.geneethics.org/maps and click "GM farms"