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. We also held strategic meetings with politicians, farm groups and the public grain breeder InterGrain, now 20% owned by Monsanto.
Steve Marsh's farm is contaminated by GM canola and his case will be settled in court. Our team organised forums on food and farmer protection in rural Williams and Perth which both attracted enthusiastic overflow crowds which passed motions opposing GM canola contamination on farms and in food. They supported Steve and gave generously to his support fund.
The day after the Perth forum, held in Premier Barnett's electorate, he distanced himself and his government in Parliament from GM wheat research, though the WA Government has invested heavily in GM wheat and allowed field trials during its GM ban. Despite 25 years of research, the GM industry has failed to produce the drought tolerant crops that it still falsely promises to farmers. It is these false hopes that are driving many to back dud GM technology. Read more at:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/regional/countryman/a/-/news/9061235/binned-premier-sidelines-gm-wheat/ and http://www.abc.net.au/rural/wa/content/2011/03/s3171805.htm.
Hear Premier Barnett answer the question on GM wheat here: http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rural/wa/countryhour/click_here_m1973587.mp3