Disallowance motion could hold up farmers’ access to GM crops
Farmers could be delayed in accessing the use of genetically-modified crops next season.
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Greens MLC Mark Parnell is warning that farmers could be left holding genetically-modified canola seed without being able to grow it next season, if a disallowance motion on lifting the present ban is put before parliament.
It follows the state government’s announcement in August of its plans to bring regulations before parliament in December, which would lift the moratorium on growing GM crops in South Australia. The exception would be Kangaroo Island, which attracts premiums in the Japanese market through its GM-free status.
While Mr Parnell did not confirm whether The Greens would put forward the disallowance motion, he said the party’s stance was to maintain the current moratorium.
“The Greens position on GM crops is no surprise to anyone — we believe maintaining the moratorium is the best outcome for SA,” he said.
The Labor Party has also said they would prefer to maintain the moratorium — at least until the findings an Upper House Select Committee, which examined the pros and cons of lifting the moratorium, handed down its findings. The committee’s findings are expected to be released in the next few weeks.
For a disallowance motion to go through, it would need the support of the Greens, Labor and SA Best.
Primary Industries Minister Tim Whetstone said lifting the GM moratorium on mainland South Australia was about giving farmers choice.
“It’s our intention to lift the moratorium in time for the next cropping season,” he said.
“Our decision is based on an independent review which found the GM moratorium provides no price premium compared with our GM-growing neighbouring states.
“The review found the moratorium has cost SA grain growers at least $33 million since 2004 and will cost farmers a further $5 million if extended to 2025.”
Mr Whetstone said the period for disallowance would lapse this year.
Grain Producers SA chief executive Caroline Rhodes said the state government’s proposal would provide an orderly transition for adopting GM crops in South Australia, while preserving the GM free status of Kangaroo Island as intended by the current legislation.
“We call upon parliament to support our farmers, by providing certainty ahead of next season and allowing this long overdue reform to proceed,” she said.
The state government has been undertaking a six-week consultation on its proposal to lift the GM ban, with submissions being taken until September 30.
As part of the consultation process a tense public meeting was held at the South Australian Research & Development Institute yesterday, where farmers were forced to argue their case for growing GM foods.
Attendees at the meeting raised concerns about the effects on organic producers, access to overseas markets and potentially increasing the use of herbicide.
Mallala farmer Richard Konzag said attending a course on gene technology convinced him of its safety and usefulness on-farm. He said there were exciting developments in the technology, including a canola that provided a good source of omega 3 oil.
“There’s a lot of emotion (about GMs), particularly when you look at what’s on social media and the internet, but let’s look at the facts and science and make decisions based on that,” he said.
“As farmers, we just want to produce the best-quality and safest food we can.”
Lucindale farmer David Malpas said farmers were looking at GM as a useful tool they could use to grow better crops.
Agronomist Jamie Wilson believes once the moratorium is lifted, there will be a gradual uptake of the technology in SA, as farmers test out whether it has a fit in their cropping systems.
“I think there’s a perception that SA will be growing wall-to-wall GM canola, but the reality is, only a small percentage of farmers will be using it, where it suits their enterprise. It might make up only 5 per cent of the state’s canola crop,” he said.