FARMERS on SA's mainland will be able to grow genetically-modified canola next season if the state government succeeds in its plan to scrap the moratorium on GM crops.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
The decision follows recommendations made in February by Emeritus Professor Kym Anderson, who conducted a state government-commissioned independent review into the potential economic benefit to the state or graingrowers in remaining GM-free.
This week, Primary Industries Minister Tim Whetstone said while concerns had been raised about GM technology, consultation undertaken in the past 12 months had shown "overwhelming support" for lifting the moratorium.
"While GM technology is not a silver bullet for the state's ag challenges, at least it gives farmers a choice."
In the short-term, canola will be the most widely grown GM crop, with GM Roundup Ready (RR) varieties set to provide SA farmers with another herbicide tolerant option along with conventionally-bred Clearfield and triazine tolerant (TT) cultivars.
When the moratorium is officially revoked it will move SA into line with other mainland Australian states, with Tas left as the only state to retain a moratorium on GM crops.
Read more here.
