Nature unkind to Australia's first commercial GM canola trial
Monday November 22, 2004
http://www.non-gm-farmers.com/news_details.asp?ID=1783

The Network of Concerned Farmers (NCF) has taken aerial photographs of Australia's first commercial plantings of genetically modified (GM) canola in Naracoorte and Lucindale, South Australia, and has published these on their website at www.non-gm-farmers.com.

The photographs make it clear that most of the 9ha crop in Naracoorte has been a failure.

"From the South Australian photos it appears that one of the GM commercial plantings has failed due to waterlogging," said NCF spokesperson Geoffrey Carracher.

"The photographs demonstrate clearly the danger of contamination as you can see how the water can flow from the site past the buffer zones into adjoining grazing lands. The long distance movement of viable seeds by flood and animals is one obvious way that GM seeds can escape and spread contamination."

The NCF claim that since commercial approval at a Federal level, the government no longer guarantees a GM-free status and farmers are expected to accept liability for economic loss caused by GM contamination.

"The South Australian government has admitted that these taxpayer funded trials are for commercial seed production. They have broken ranks with other states by allowing a purely commercial planting of GM canola, which will provide no benefits or information to Australian farmers."

"Although the South Australian regulation is strict, there appears to be no regulation to prevent these seeds from entering the supply chain once it crosses the SA border," said Mr Carracher.

"These commercial trials would be enough to plant around 5,000 ha and we hope this seed will not be used for large scale trials in NSW next year because coexistence is not possible to the level markets demand and there appears to be no intention to guarantee a GM-free status," he said.

The NCF is asking for guarantees from both Victoria and New South Wales that they will not permit the transport or sale of this commercial crop in those states.

Cropwatch, the NCF crop monitoring project, previously published aerial photographs of Victorian GM canola trial sites and have since distributed letters to farmers surrounding trial sites in both Victoria and South Australia warning farmers of potential liability issues.

Cropwatch will be holding a meeting at 7.30 on the 29th of November in the Naracoorte Town Hall to provide detailed information to farmers on risk management and testing for GM contamination.

Contacts:

Geoffrey Carracher, Cropwatch/NCF spokesperson ph: 03 53866261 or 0428 316901

Direct link to Photos : http://www.non-gm-farmers.com/news_details.asp?ID=1774