By David McKenzie
Herald Sun via Checkbiotech.org

Top government scientists are working to loosen the monopoly grip of multinational companies on genetically modified crops.

CSIRO is developing new GM processes it hopes to patent and use as a bargaining lever.

It wants to force companies to offer farmers a broader range of GM crops. The five-year, $20 million project, funded by CSIRO and the Grains Research and Development Corporation, is already more than a year down the track.

Project leader Dr Peter East said the first application for a patent, covering genes to help plants fight fungal disease, should be lodged within a year. Other projects in progress look at genes and germplasm that can deliver herbicide and insect resistance.

Patent applications are expected in three to five years.

Dr East said the multinationals controlled most GM crops, and it was not in their interests to release many in Australia.

He said the CSIRO and the Grains Corporation aimed to develop alternative genes, establish intellectual property rights over them and negotiate with the multinationals to insert them into new crop varieties for local release. "We still have to use these companies because they have the expertise needed to develop new GM products and bring them to the market," he said.

The companies were also better placed to meet the high costs of regulatory and safety testing requirements, he said.

"We believe we will have genes that are sufficiently attractive to these companies that they will be keen to enter into cross-licensing arrangements with us," Dr East said.

The result would be more GM crops available to Australian farmers at lower cost, he said.

© Herald and Weekly Times