Another setback for WA GM crops

Another setback for WA GM crops
COLIN BETTLES

25/03/2008 7:40:00 PM
A ground-breaking independent research trial into the growing of genetically modified (GM) canola and utilising end product in WA conditions has been temporarily put on hold.

The WA South East Premium Wheat Growers Association (SEPWA) and independent research provider Kalyx Agriculture announced last week that it was withdrawing from the GM trial program for which it applied last year and which was covered by the exemption from the State Government’s moratoria on the commercial production of GM food crops.

Part of the blame has also been placed on WA Premier Alan Carpenter’s assertion at the recent PGA Convention, when he publicly proclaimed that his government would never approve of GM food trials.

SEPWA was given approval to run a 2.5ha trial to grow GM canola at the Esperance Downs Research Station this season.

It would have been the first time that GM canola was grown in WA conditions under a broad-scale trial environment.

There was an application pending to have an amendment to the original exemption which would have given SEPWA and Kalyx the ability to evaluate GM canola varieties in a small-plot field trial and for the final product to be crushed and used to help assess its agronomic performance and its profitability for crop rotation under WA conditions. S

EPWA’s original application for the broadacre GM trials started in August 2006 and was submitted in February 2007 with approval given by Agriculture Minister Kim Chance seven months ago.

The trial work was considered vital because of its ability to provide independent information on the technology’s performance and profitability in local growing conditions.

But seed availability threatened the trial.

Kalyx Agriculture director Peter Burgess said the seed companies had been extremely helpful but they were frustrated by the political climate in WA.

Mr Burgess said the exemption remained valid for this season but a trial program would not be started.

He said the seed companies had supported, in principle, the trials up until recently.

He blamed Mr Chance and the State Government for their negative attitude towards GM technology.

SEPWA president Chris Reichstein said the seed companies had been extremely co-operative and would not hesitate to supply seed to the research project but they had reached their limit with the government’s negative stance on GMs.

“The political reality in WA is that there is no opportunity for commercialisation of the GM canola cropping system in the foreseeable future and as such there is no incentive for the companies to dedicate resources here,” Mr Reichstein said.

“As of two weeks ago, we were still confident of getting seed and going ahead with the application.

“However, the comments of Premier Alan Carpenter at that time clearly demonstrated to the seed companies his disappointing stance that there is ‘no hope’ for GM food crops in WA.”

SOURCE: Farm Weekly, WA