GM-free benefits all South Australians - the GM canola ban should stay
22 October 2011Wednesday, 19 October, 2011: The South Australian government's ban on genetically manipulated (GM) crops has the support of most South Australians. The ban makes good economic, public health and environmental sense says Gene Ethics.
"GM-free crops and foods are more safe, sustainable and saleable than GM canola," says Gene Ethics Director Bob Phelps.
"We congratulate the SA government on its GM ban and are pleased that the Liberals, Greens and some independents have also declared themselves in favour of GM-free farms and food.
"Most shoppers do not want to buy or eat GM foods of questionable safety and over 90% want all GM ingredients labelled, so they can leave GM on the shelf.
"Claims that GM crops can increase yields are disproved by experience in Western Australia where GM canola was just 0.42% of crop crop value last year. Complex genetic traits like drought tolerant and healthier GM crops cannot be made with crude and inexact GM techniques.
"Only herbicide tolerant canola is available, so farmers can spray Roundup weedicide more often and at higher doses without killing their crop. That leaves more synthetic chemical residues in our food and environment.
"The best conventional canola varieties yield more than the GM types.
"Local, European and Japanese canola buyers so strongly demand GM-free canola that Australian farmers are earning an extra $50/tonne premium for their GM-free harvest. SA is in a very strong position to keep its competitive advantage for GM-free vs GM which is difficult to sell, even at a
$50 discount.
"A Japanese consumers cooperative group was in WA last week seeking safeguards on GM-freecanola supplies. They seek new GM-free sources of supply in SA and Tasmania since a major GM canola spill and GM contamination of an organic farmer in WA.
"Business SA is out of step with the vast majority of the members of South Australia's wine, organic and grains industries who want to stay GM-free.
"The GM canola ban is rational, reasonable and rewarding," Mr Phelps concludes.