The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) authorised
the continued commercial release of Roundup Ready cotton on
Thursday, June 19, 2003.
The decision allows cotton farmers to continue to adopt the
technology, which has proved popular in Australia’s $1.5 billion
dollar cotton industry.
Monsanto’s Roundup
Ready cotton, first planted in 2000 across 12,000 hectares, has
expanded, to cover 91,000 ha, or 40 per cent of Australia’s
cotton crop. This rapid growth has been driven by farmer demand.
Initial release of Roundup Ready cotton was supported in
September, 2000 by the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee.
However, its continuing sale was subject to a full review by the
OGTR, which now underpins Australia’s strict gene technology
approval process.
Moree, New South Wales cotton grower, Tony Bailey, of
Australian Food & Fibre Properties Pty Ltd., which harvested
1500 ha of Roundup Ready cotton last season, pointed to the
crop’s impressive track record and welcomed the OGTR decision.
"Roundup Ready cotton is proven and saves costs. Where we’ve
had to manually remove weeds once or twice a season in the past,
we no longer face that cost in many paddocks and reduced
cultivation saves on machinery operation expenses and water," he
said.
Roundup Ready cotton carries a gene allowing it to tolerate
glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup herbicide. Studies
have shown that it fits well with conservation farming, by
halving the need for soil-disturbing cultivation, reducing
residual herbicide use by one third and cutting selective
herbicide use by almost two thirds.
According to Monsanto Australia Regulatory Manager, Bethwyn
Todd, the approval signals the completion of an extensive
assessment of Roundup Ready cotton’s safety and authorises its
continued commercial release under the Federal gene technology
legislation.
"Roundup Ready cotton systems employ the environmentally
benign Roundup herbicide, making its approval and popularity
with farmers positive news for sustainable cotton production,"
she said.
The OGTR’s safety assessment for Roundup Ready cotton
included public and expert consultation, including with the
Federal Environment Minister, Food Standards Australia New
Zealand, the National Health and Medical Research Council, the
Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee, all State and
Territory Governments and local councils in which cotton is
grown.