GM Canola
As a third generation grain grower - with a fourth generation running the farm and a fifth generation running around in the paddocks - I have considered the GM issue carefully.
Would GM be in the best interests of our farm’s economic future - and would there be any risks to the health of future generations?
The first thing I did was look at the Fact Sheets on the Federal Department of Agriculture’s website. It was a myth-busting experience.
As a third generation grain grower - with a fourth generation running the farm and a fifth generation running around in the paddocks - I have considered the GM issue carefully.
Would GM be in the best interests of our farm’s economic future - and would there be any risks to the health of future generations?
The first thing I did was look at the Fact Sheets on the Federal Department of Agriculture’s website. It was a myth-busting experience.
Our own WA Agriculture Department also has some myth-busting Fact Sheets on frequently asked questions about GM.
For example:
Studies have shown that with wind movement most canola pollen travels less than 10 metres from the plant, and 50 per cent of pollen falls within 3 metres of a plant.
Canola is 70 per cent self pollinating so bees would have to land on flowers that were not already fertilised. Many studies have shown that a large proportion of bee flights are less than 1 metre in distance with the majority of pollen being transported by bees less than 5 metres.
Large scale studies in Australia, Europe and Canada show that the highest frequency of outcrossing detected was just 0.07 per cent. These levels are below the agreed accidental or Adventitious Presence (AP) threshold for GM events in non-GM canola seed and grain in Australia (less than 0.9 per cent).
Industry stewardship principles and crop management plans are also in place to reduce the risk of gene flow even further, including minimum separation distances between GM and non-GM crop, and harvesting of adjacent non-GM canola borders for inclusion in the GM canola harvest.
Crossing with related species such as wild radish and wild turnip has been shown to be possible but at extremely low levels, and the offspring of these crosses or hybrids are often sterile or show low vigour.
As a farmer I can see that there are immediate benefits such as the reduced use of hazardous weed control chemicals (which must be routinely sprayed pre-emergence in non-GM crops), along with the chance to improve yields and develop drought resistant varieties.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE SAFEGUARDS?
Before new GM crops are approved for use in Australia they are subject to rigorous scientific assessment by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, including the potential spread and persistence of the crop and the potential to become a weed. The process is transparent, and all license approvals are available on the Regulator’s website.
In addition, if a product of gene technology is destined for human consumption it has to be assessed against a rigorous set of standards and approved by Food Standards Australia New Zealand.
Companies which sell GM seed must be licensed to do so - and part of that license requires that the farmers who buy their seed must attend training sessions and legally agree to implement specified and monitored management practices.
As to the economics - the argument that our world trade status may be affected doesn’t hold water given that farmers from 23 countries around the world now grow GM canola. After considering all the facts (not the myths) my family may be one of them in the future.
Want to know more about how I came to my decision? Go to the Parliament section of this website to check out my speeches on GM.
For example:
Studies have shown that with wind movement most canola pollen travels less than 10 metres from the plant, and 50 per cent of pollen falls within 3 metres of a plant.
Canola is 70 per cent self pollinating so bees would have to land on flowers that were not already fertilised. Many studies have shown that a large proportion of bee flights are less than 1 metre in distance with the majority of pollen being transported by bees less than 5 metres.
Large scale studies in Australia, Europe and Canada show that the highest frequency of outcrossing detected was just 0.07 per cent. These levels are below the agreed accidental or Adventitious Presence (AP) threshold for GM events in non-GM canola seed and grain in Australia (less than 0.9 per cent).
Industry stewardship principles and crop management plans are also in place to reduce the risk of gene flow even further, including minimum separation distances between GM and non-GM crop, and harvesting of adjacent non-GM canola borders for inclusion in the GM canola harvest.
Crossing with related species such as wild radish and wild turnip has been shown to be possible but at extremely low levels, and the offspring of these crosses or hybrids are often sterile or show low vigour.
As a farmer I can see that there are immediate benefits such as the reduced use of hazardous weed control chemicals (which must be routinely sprayed pre-emergence in non-GM crops), along with the chance to improve yields and develop drought resistant varieties.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE SAFEGUARDS?
Before new GM crops are approved for use in Australia they are subject to rigorous scientific assessment by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, including the potential spread and persistence of the crop and the potential to become a weed. The process is transparent, and all license approvals are available on the Regulator’s website.
In addition, if a product of gene technology is destined for human consumption it has to be assessed against a rigorous set of standards and approved by Food Standards Australia New Zealand.
Companies which sell GM seed must be licensed to do so - and part of that license requires that the farmers who buy their seed must attend training sessions and legally agree to implement specified and monitored management practices.
As to the economics - the argument that our world trade status may be affected doesn’t hold water given that farmers from 23 countries around the world now grow GM canola. After considering all the facts (not the myths) my family may be one of them in the future.
Want to know more about how I came to my decision? Go to the Parliament section of this website to check out my speeches on GM.
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Copyright Brian Ellis MLC © 2009 - 2011
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Electorate Office: Unit 1, Druids Hall, Corner Durlacher and Sanford Streets, Geraldton, WA 6530. PO Box 231, Geraldton, WA 6531
Ph: +61 (08) 9923 9211; Fax: +61 (08) 9923 9222; Email: brian.ellis@mp.wa.gov.au
Ph: +61 (08) 9923 9211; Fax: +61 (08) 9923 9222; Email: brian.ellis@mp.wa.gov.au