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 Chance's GM claims need evidence: WAFarmers 

Chance's GM claims need evidence: WAFarmers

25/08/2008 1:53:00 PM
WAFarmers wants the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Kim Chance, to undertake a referendum of WA growers to support his recent media statement that the majority of farmers want to grow and market their canola as GM-free.

WAFarmers president, Mike Norton, believes this is contradictory to the majority of views expressed by WAFarmers' members, as demonstrated by the democratic voting process of WAFarmers' in determining its genetically modified organisms (GMOs) policy.

WAFarmers GMO policy states that:

* WAFarmers supports the lifting of the current State Government moratorium on the commercial release of GMOs;

* WAFarmers supports new Australian and State Government tolerance levels of 0.9pc in crops and 0.5pc in seeds; and

* WAFarmers supports the Office of Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) and its charter to protect the health and safety of Australians and the Australian environment.

"Clearly GMOs are an emotive topic and different sectors of the agricultural community hold different views, however misleading campaigns by the State Government should not be based on emotion," Mr Norton said.

The lobby group believes that the Government should follow suit of the New South Wales and Victorian Governments who ended their moratorium on Genetically Modified canola crops late last year.

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Comments


Date: Newest first | Oldest first
Let's have the government pass legislation which clearly puts the legal responsibility for health and contamination costs on the technology suppliers and users - then we will see just how keen they are to use or sell this technology. If the supporters of the technology are so sure of their benefits and safety I am sure they would be happy to support such legislation.
Posted by bazza on 25/08/2008 7:01:06 PM
It is true that Kim Chance's comments require evidence, but so too do all the claims of the pro-GM lobby that GM crops are safe, are drought-tolerant, will feed the world, etc, etc. The claim of the anti-GM lobby that GM foods may be unsafe have been proven by the work of ANU/CSIRO on GM peas. What is needed is less fantasy, fear and promises and more evidence.
Posted by Adrian Gibbs on 26/08/2008 6:57:02 AM
What a good idea. But don't hold your breath. This is not about what farmers want, this is about blind political ideology. Kim's best contribution has been to set up a committee of divided factions that could never possibly agree to move forward - the perfect choice when you want to appear as if your doing something but are hell bent on doing nothing.
Posted by Ports on 26/08/2008 9:59:13 AM
Having sat on a WA parliamentary committee investigating GMO issues in WA I noted that the WA Farmers Federation put a strong position to the committee but admitted that it had not polled its members to gather their views. Perhaps WA Farmers needs to prove that its position is a majority view rather than an executive decision before questioning Mr Chance.

Furthermore perhaps it is time that WA Farmers asked the consumers in WA and overseas what their position is as well because evidence was also provided to the committee that the major buyers of our oil seeds clearly stated their preference for non GM produce. In fact our largest overseas buyer of canola said that if he was able to access all non GMO canola he would. He advised Australian growers to remain GMO free.

WA Farmers seem to have forgotten how we ended up with huge surplus wool stockpiles when they last tried to ignore what their customers wanted.

James

Posted by James Scott on 26/08/2008 11:22:06 AM
If the WAF insist on a poll then I suggest that firstly they ask only the canola growers, as these are the farmers who would be affected if GM canola were introduced, and these are also the people who would have done their homework on the pros and cons of GM canola specifically. Then poll our canola markets to get their reaction to buying GM canola and lastly poll consumers on whether they would be happy eating unlabelled foods containing GM canola. As for comparing WA with Victoria, there the decision was based on a 3 person panel, 2 of which were pro GM, producing a result that did not have the backing, nor allowed the vote of many of the state government members. Do you think that was democratic?
Posted by Hebe on 26/08/2008 2:29:53 PM
James, did you ask "our largest overseas buyer of canola" what premium they are prepared to pay for Non-GM? Oh and while you are at it, ask Mr Chance if his government is allowing the importation of GM soymeal for use in our lot feeding industry.
Posted by GM supporter on 26/08/2008 2:49:29 PM
I think there is far too much extremity either way. we are already eating GM food, and i don't see people walking around with mutations because of it. A moderated approach, supported by the science which is solid, needs to be used. Anti GM supporters are making WA re-invent the wheel which is ridiculous. Growers who believe this technology is bad will most likely not be farming anyway, and the comments about premiums are ridiculous as towns and cities encroach on more of our land, how are we going to produce the same food volume without utilising proven technology, of which GM is just a part?
Posted by Roger on 28/08/2008 8:11:29 AM
Well said bazza.

I am always amazed how half the time farmers are complaining about how large multi nationals, let alone smaller national companies, are ripping farmers off. Here they are thinking the large multi national is going to give them a golden egg when it comes to gm crops. I will support Gm crops, as long as bazza’s comments are part of the process.

Posted by dunart on 28/08/2008 3:43:08 PM
Again, i say it is proven technology, and if it ignored, then these so called large multinationals who research, develop and provide new technologies will focus elsewhere and we lose out as we won't even get the choce. Why is there so much negativity, when like any other technology that is available? You have a choice to use it or not use it. No one holds a gun to our heads and say you must use this or else! It wil come, it's just a matter of time, so embrace or not, the decision is up to the individual as it has always been. As always has been we will In the future, look back at the adoptions of the past and see who was really right and wnder what all the fuss was about.
Posted by Roger on 30/08/2008 11:34:23 AM
The world population has doubled since the 'Green Revolution' and the scientists and farmers of the world of my generation have, by and large, fed everyone, even their critics. So far no one has said thank you. The challenge now, for the next generation is to repeat that achievement with less land, less water, perhaps global warming and so on and so on, grain production must, must increase by 50% within a decade or so. Now the well fed have nothing to do but criticize. GM corn has not killed anyone and its been around for many years. GM Canola from Canada is sold at the same price as that from Australia. To the critics I say think about the challenge that farmers an scientists have the next time you climb on the scales to see if you have put on any weight.
Posted by Roger Crook on 4/09/2008 4:21:52 AM
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