www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info ; www.czu.cz

Forty years ago opponents to the introduction of fluoride in to Australia's
water supply were loud, aggressive and absolutely convinced that they were
right, March 2007 by Dr Glenn Tong.

Fluoride, it was declared, was evil and a poison.

Today the benefits of fluoride are accepted worldwide and it is acknowledged
as the major factor in reduction of dental cavities in Australian children.

Similar arguments were used about the supposed dangers of milk
pasteurisation, yet the benefits of this technology are now universally
accepted.

Against the background of global warming and the most severe drought in 100
years, it is therefore interesting to reflect that NSW and nearly all other
State Governments have a temporary ban on genetically modified crops, which
offer the prospect of growing wheat and other grains in drought conditions.

A major international conference held in Canberra earlier this year
reaffirmed that Australia and the rest of the world needed to reappraise GM
crops to help increase food supplies and ensure food security for the world.

Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation forum chairwoman Ellen Terpstra told the
conference that GM crops could have significant benefits in dealing with
drought, heat, soil salinity and issues relating to climate change.

These views have brought into sharp focus the need to rethink existing State
Government moratoria on GM crops.

Currently, all states except Queensland have moratoria on GM canola.

The undeniable reality now is that, particularly to meet the challenge of
global warming, we cannot afford the luxury of ignoring GM crops amid this
growing crisis.

Gene technology provides the opportunity to produce crops that can be grown
much more efficiently in drought areas.

Taking wheat as one example, 35 to 50 per cent of the world's wheat is
currently grown in drought-affected regions. New research into drought
tolerant varieties could significantly increase the world's supply of wheat
in the face of these harsher climatic conditions.

Investment in GM technology is long term.

Investment now will produce new plant varieties in about 10 years time.

Australians need to know that GM crops have been endorsed as safe by the
World Health Organisation and our federal regulatory body, Food Standards
Australia and New Zealand.

The more time it takes for Australia to embrace GM technologies, the more
advantage we provide to our competitors.

[www.news.com.au]