Monster weeds feared
By DANNY BUTTLER, rural reporter
31dec02
A NEW report on genetically modified plants has revealed they could lead to
the creation of herbicide resistant superweeds.
Environment groups have called on the State Government to abandon trials of
GM crops following the release of the British report.
The news followed a Productivity Commission study which found Australian
farmers will fall behind the rest of the world if they do not embrace
genetically engineered plants.
But the British National Institute of Agricultural Botany and the
Laboratory of the Government Chemist report has cast doubt on the safety of
the controversial plants.
Canola crops examined during the six-year study were found to have
contaminated other crops, with machinery used on the test plots helping to
spread genes to other land.
It was the reported ease with which the GM canola cross-bred with weeds
which caused the greatest concern among environmental groups.
The Australian Conservation Foundation said cross-bred GM plants would be a
menace to native eco-systems.
"We have a tragic history of introducing species and crops which get out
into the
Australian environment and have a devastating impact on wildlife and
agriculture," ACF campaign director John Connor said.
"It's exactly the sort of thing we have been warning about . . .
cross-species could create superweeds which would get out of control and
damage not only the Australian bush but the Australian farm."
The ACF called on the State and Federal Governments to place a moratorium
on GM crops until further evidence can be gathered.
"We're not entirely opposed to them, but we need a five-year freeze," Mr
Connor said.
"We need to be extremely careful as we look at this new technology and I
think caution is justified when you hear these reports."
The Victorian Farmers Federation said it was satisfied sufficient caution
was being taken with current GM trials.
VFF grains council chairman Ron Hards said the Victorian Government was
taking the correct approach.
"I think it's on the right track. Industry self-regulation and government
regulation are working," he said. "We haven't seen any information that has
changed our minds and we have been looking at the issue for donkey's years."
The Productivity Commission research paper found that if Australian
producers did not boost GM technology, markets for oilseeds and non-wheat
grains were likely to stagnate.
"The results imply that over the longer term, the expansion of GM
technology into non-wheat grains and oilseed sectors could have significant
impacts on Australia's trade position," it said.
"If Australia's adoption (of GM technology) does not increase, while its
trading partners expand their use of GM crop technology, Australia may lose
some opportunities to raise (or even maintain) its market shares over the
long run."
But the ACF said the Productivity Commission had failed to look at the big
picture.
"I think the productivity commission is taking a very short-sighted and
classical economic view and hasn't factored in the risks appropriately," Mr
Connor said.
"This report shows just how big those risks can be for a country like
Australia."
Last year, about 5.5 million farmers in 13 nations grew GM crops --
predominantly soybeans, corn, cotton and canola.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,5769199%255E662,00
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