Genetically-modified crops: What an end to the NSW GM ban means for industry

The last barrier to growing whatever grain crop farmers choose has been pulled down. See what it will mean for the industry going forward.

NSW farmers now have access to the full gamut of genetically modified crops as a result of the lifting of a moratorium last week.

NSW farmers now have unabated use of genetically modified crops, after the state’s long-held moratorium was lifted last week.

The NSW Government announced in March it was lifting the moratorium on July 1.

CropLife Australia said it meant every mainland state now had access to all approved GM crops, not just those which required applications for exemptions in NSW.

Up until now, NSW farmers could only grow GM varieties that did not end up as animal feed or in the food chain.

Access was limited to GM cotton and some varieties of canola with specific traits for the past 18 years.

Removal of the moratorium meant farmers did not have to seek an exemption to grow a new variety when it came to market.

NSW Farmers agricultural chemicals chairman Alan Brown said he did not expect a rush into GM crops next season when it essentially became available to growers.

“It will take time (for its acceptance),” he said.

“There is not another cotton-type revolution ready to happen in canola or wheat.

“And we have to make sure that farmers who don’t wish to have the technology are not impacted by it.”

Mr Brown said the benefits of GM crops would become more evident in the future.

“What I see happening in the medium term is far more efficient breeding happening, where plant breeders are able to cross desirable traits much quicker than they have in the past,” he said.

“These traits included drought tolerance, frost tolerance and stripe rust resistance.”

CropLife Australia chief executive officer Matthew Cossey said the lifting of the moratorium was a “huge leap forward for innovative, modern and sustainable agriculture”.

Mr Cossey said it brought Australian farmers into line with their major competitors in international markets.

“Farmers should be the ones to make their own choices about what crops to grow that best fit their farming environment and business model,” he said.

“Having access to GM crops is only going to become more important as farmers continue to face periods of drought and increasingly harsher conditions in a changing climate.”

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