Tassie farmers told to embrace GM crops

Tasmania’s has been warned its agricultural sectors risk being “written off” after extending its GM moratorium.

Apple grower Andrew Scott at his Huon Valley property in southern Tasmania. Picture: Mathew Farrell

Tasmania has been warned its agricultural sectors risk being “written off” by sudden advances in genetically modified crops, after extending its GM moratorium for another 10 years.

The decade-long extension announced this week, following a ­review, is backed by the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association as protecting the state’s brand and access to GM organism-free ­European markets.

There was concern in the dairy industry, however, that the benefits may be outweighed by developments in GM fodder crops such as rye grass; even supporters were surprised at the ban length.

It will leave Tasmania the only GMO-free state, with South Australia expected to scrap its ban after a review critical of its benefits.

Tasmanian agribusiness consultant and former association chief Jan Davis said the new moratorium was too long and risked leaving the state’s producers unable to quickly match GM advances by competitors.

“We need to be able to move quickly if something comes up that we need to get access to,” she said. “The one we’re all hanging out and waiting for is (GM) dairy fodder.

“If we had to wait 10 years to get that, you might as well write-off the dairy industry in Tasmania because we wouldn’t be competitive. Any (ban) extension should be short-term … with a capacity for a swift response were circumstances to change.”

The state Liberal government said it would continue to regularly review developments in GM technology, markets and consumer sentiment, despite the ban, which was due to expire in November.

Premier Will Hodgman said this could trigger a review of the policy earlier (than 2029) “should developments warrant it”.

The Australian understands any GM advance would be balanced against the impact on all sectors, meaning a certain benefit to one sector alone may not justify a rethink.

Ms Davis said she was sceptical of government promises.

Fruit Growers Tasmania chief executive Stuart Burgess said his members thought the moratorium enhanced the state brand, while allowing for a “watching brief” on developments.

Sixth-generation Huon Valley apple-grower Andrew Scott said while he was open-minded about GMOs, he thought an ongoing moratorium was sensible.

“It’s clean, safe food (that) we hang our hat on,” he said.

Plant science body CropLife Australia condemned the decision. “The Tasmanian government is denying their farmers the choice to reap the proven environmental and economic benefit GM crops are already bringing to growers in mainland states and across the globe,” said its chief executive, Matthew Cossey.