EXTRACT: Rob Warburton is a local GM canola grower who visited Mr Marsh's property late last week. He says he was surprised at how extensive the contamination was.
"What we saw was the GM canola had actually travelled a very, very long way to get to his property. From the point of view of a farmer, I was sitting in his field and I was quite staggered at how far these seeds had travelled, I'd never really seen anything quite like it.
"I feel a lot of empathy for Steve...he's a small landowner who was obviously having trouble making ends meet conventionally because of the high cost, high risk nature of farming at the moment. He saw a niche, which is organic farming, he's obviously benefiting from it...and you need that premium, without that premium there's no point in being organic."
TAKE ACTION: PLEASE DONATE:
*Help organic farmer fight Monsanto
Monsanto has stated that it will back the GM farmer responsible for the contamination if the victim, Steve Marsh, takes legal action. Please donate to support Steve Marsh in his fight against Monsanto. You can donate by direct payment to the following bank account:
Bendigo Bank
Account Name: NASAA (WA) Inc GM Contamination Fund
BSB: 633000
Account Number: 141944298
More information:
http://www.nasaa-wa.com.au/NASAA_WA/Home.html
---
---
DAFWA criticised over Kojonup GM contamination case
Celia Polkinghorne, Bunbury
ABC Rural Report, 17 January 2010
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/regions/content/201101/3114707.htm?site=southwestwa
The lawyer of the Kojonup family suing for GM canola contamination of their organic crops is concerned about a lack of attention to the issue from the Department of Agriculture and Food.
Late last week it was confirmed that Kojonup farmer, Steve Marsh, would be suing his neighbour, Michael Baxter, over the alleged contamination.
This contamination has led to decertification of his organic status and therefore a loss of income.
Steve Marsh's lawyer, Richard Huston, says the matter may have widespread effects into the larger farming community.
He believes the Department of Agriculture and Food has failed to respond adequately to the matter.
"If the Minister's aware, and he is, that contaminating material has found its way onto my clients' land...isn't it plausible that it possibly found its way somewhere else?
"If that's the case, what about the broader environmental implications of doing nothing about it?
"My clients want to see this stopped in its tracks so no one else is devastated like they are and they've been asking...for an environmental and social impact study to be undertaken to fully get to the bottom of what's taken place.
"There's no shame in a government making a mistake, but there is in delaying doing anything about it."
Minister for Agriculture Terry Redman has been contacted on this, however he is on leave until next Monday and is not prepared to comment until he returns to work.
Plant breeder Monsanto and the Marsh's neighbour, Michael Baxter, have also been called for comment.
Kojonup GM canola grower shows support for organic farming
A Western Australia Nuffield Scholar says the level of genetically modified canola contamination on Steve Marsh's organic farm at Kojonup is staggering.
Rob Warburton is a local GM canola grower who visited Mr Marsh's property late last week.
He says he was surprised at how extensive the contamination was.
"What we saw was the GM canola had actually travelled a very, very long way to get to his property.
"From the point of view of a farmer, I was sitting in his field and I was quite staggered at how far these seeds had travelled, I'd never really seen anything quite like it.
"I feel a lot of empathy for Steve...he's a small landowner who was obviously having trouble making ends meet conventionally because of the high cost, high risk nature of farming at the moment.
"He saw a niche, which is organic farming, he's obviously benefiting from it...and you need that premium, without that premium there's no point in being organic."