Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
May 2, 2008
The Victorian government’s
decision to drop its moratorium on the planting of genetically
modified (GM) canola was today welcomed by agricultural
scientists.
Molecular Plant
Breeding Cooperative Research Centre CEO Dr Glenn Tong said
the moratorium did not make scientific or commercial sense.
“Studies of the Canadian experience with GM canola show that the
technology can increase yields and grower revenues while
decreasing the need for agricultural chemicals and reducing fuel
use.”
“Activist groups often cite Japan as an anti-GM market, but last
year Canadian GM canola made up the bulk of Japan’s canola
imports.”
“Canadian farmers have been benefitting from this technology for
years, but Australian farmers have been denied the opportunity
to use it.”
This year the Molecular Plant Breeding CRC sowed the first
Australian trial of drought tolerant GM wheat in Victoria’s
Wimmera region.
The crops have been modified to include drought tolerance genes
from several other plants including corn and a species of moss.
Dr Tong said that dropping the ban would encourage further
investment in Australian agricultural research.
“Until today we were sending mixed messages to investors. We had
built a strong biotech capability that said ‘come and invest in
Victoria’, but we had a regulatory framework that said ‘we’re
not really sure about this technology’.”
“Today’s announcement sends a clear message to the investment
community that Victoria is serious about agricultural
biotechnology.”
MPBCRC is a Cooperative Research Centre established under the
Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centres Program. |
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