By Paula Thopson
Crunch-time has come for the future of genetically modified crops (GM)
in South Australia.
While many believe GMs will bring benefits, such as drought-tolerant
crops, others, such as organic growers, are fearful of cross-contamination
and the loss of Australia's clean-green image.
A review of SA's Genetically Modified Crops Management Act 2004, which
states that GM food crops cannot be cultivated anywhere in the State, has
started.

Submissions are being taken by the review, with a report to be
prepared for the Genetically Modified Crop Advisory Committee.

The committee will then make recommendation to Agriculture Minister
Rory McEwen.

Mallala farmer John Lush, a member of the Federal Government's
Biotechnology Advisory Committee and president of the Food Science Futures
Foundation, says great gains are to be made from GM technology.

"If a farmer has been successful over the past 10 to 20 years, in all
probability a large percentage of that is due to science in food
production," he said.

GM could offer benefits to crops such as heat stress resistance, salt
tolerance, and more efficient water use.

"Other farmers around the world have already benefitted," he said.

"If you talk to farmers in Canada, they are a long way ahead of us.

"They are using GM technology to plant things like GM canola, which is
putting them a long way ahead.

"If GM technology was already in place in Australia, the pain of last
year's drought would not have been as great."

Consumer acceptance of GM food will grow, he says.

"If you ask people whether they will eat GM food that is proven to be
of benefit to the environment, through the use of less fertiliser, I believe
the answer will probably be 'yes'," Mr Lush said.

But Biological Farmers of Australia board member and GM spokesperson,
Scott Kinnear, said too many risks would be involved in lifting the
moratorium on GM crops.


[nqr.farmonline.com.au]