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Claims of GM canola contamination in Vic

25 Nov, 2008 02:14 PM
Anti genetically modified food group, GM Cropwatch, claims to have found evidence of GM contamination from crops in Horsham, Victoria.

GM Cropwatch's Jessica Harrison says she has found GM canola plants heaped up on the roadside near Horsham, and that galahs were also seen feasting on GM canola last week.

She says windrowed GM canola plants also blew off a farmers' property and were strewn 75 metres across the road.

"Agriculture Minister Joe Helper must apply strict pollution laws to this GM harvest, monitor and manage all the GM sites and clean up this GM contamination," Ms Harrison said.

"He must also ensure that all GM canola cut for hay is used where it stands or is destroyed, instead of spreading viable seed across the country-side."

Cropwatch has monitored and tested for GM canola spills on roadsides and farms around Horsham and the Lubeck silo for the past two weeks.

Geoffrey Carracher, of the Network of Concerned Farmers, says that after windrowed canola is cut and laid down to dry "wind gusts often lift up whole rows and dump the plants metres or even miles away".

Mr Carracher claims the GM contamination is now "rampant", even though "just fifteen farmers will deliver GM canola to the Lubeck silo this year".

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first
Dear Sir Given the announcement that Tasmania have Banned G M crops for another five years causes me to wonder why our Victorian Government is so keen to allow it here! I have just concluded reading the report on the Showa Denko Tryptophan Disaster, followed by the Summary by John B Fagan Ph.D. This is the finale of a Court Case dealing with the deaths of thirty seven people and the permanent disablement of fifteen hundred others. So what? You might say, but given that the conclusions were a body blow to Monsanto’s claims that G M is not harmful to humans, it is very pertinent to the discussions in your paper today. The summary damns the obfuscations of the FDA, and their bias towards G M foods. No farmer in his right mind would allow a Monsanto representative on his property after reading them. It should also send a shudder though all Australians to read just how far the big corporations will go in an attempt to deny responsibility. I implore all concerned Australians to read this report, instead of burying their heads in the sand!
Posted by Creeker, 25/11/2008 3:31:40 PM
This was a disaster waiting to happen...and how soon! What a joke...one in a thousand canola growers are now holding the livelihoods of the rest in their hands. There is no segregation plan...there never has been...the idea is to contaminate...I can only wonder at the ignorance of the GM growers that convince them that this is 'not a problem'!!! Canola is now off the menu for me and my family!
Posted by Hebe, 25/11/2008 6:42:24 PM
Follow Tasmania's lead and ban GM crops for 5 years, and ideally permanently. In spite of the years of positive spin Monsanto and biotechnology scientists have put on GM food, consumers still don't want to buy or eat the stuff. That's the bottom line and end of the story really. Why produce a product no one wants - and a dangerous one at that?
Posted by Diane, 25/11/2008 7:16:44 PM
Creeker, you and other readers should read Professor Richard Roush's excellent analysis of the Showa Denko incident: http://www.gene.ch/gentech/1997/8.96-5.97/msg00655.html In summary, it is much more likely that a shonky purification system rather than GM crops is to blame for the unfortunate incident. Dr John Fagan does not attribute blame to GM crops in his summary.
Posted by Dr. Glenn Tong, 26/11/2008 8:21:18 AM
Yes, I agree that all should read this report but should also read many others to ensure that their perspective and knowledge of the this contentious topic is balanced and well informed – not one sided or alarmist - but based on sound scientific research and fact that can be verified as independent and free of influence from both sides of the GM lobby. Reports such as those by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), a highly respected and independent authority that is operating in the midst of the anti-GM European Union, has found time and time again that there is not one substantiated case of GM foods that have been registered with the authorities being proven to be harmful to our heath. There are also many published reports of research and trials that can demonstrate substantial evidence that genetically modified foods that have been registered with the appropriate authorities are as safe as conventional foods.

But this doesn’t mean we should not be cautious and should not learn from our mistakes such as Showa Denko. But to tarnish all GM crops and foods and all the potential benefits that may be possible with this technology with one case from almost 20 years ago is surely alarmist and extreme. The fact is that GM crops and foods are subject to more rigorous and sustained testing and analysis than any of our conventional foods have ever been. Let this practice continue and let the proper scientific results speak for themselves.

Posted by Prow, 26/11/2008 8:34:14 AM
GM Cropwatch's Jessica Harrison says she has found GM canola plants heaped up on the roadside near Horsham, and that galahs were also seen feasting on GM canola last week. Well boo hoo. Those galahs know all too well that the canola seed they are munching on is safe, regulated and highly nutritious! Joe Helper dosen't have to do anything. The OGTR have covered all these issues. GM canola and Non-GM canola are the same in the enviroment. Both won't worry it. Guess what? The sky won't fall in if GM canola swaths are blown around in the wind. This small anti-technology crowd will shroud this technology in controversy, conspiracy and emotion. Once the farmer strips all this Green Peace layering away he is left with a product which is highly saleable more profitable and one his competitors have used for 13 years. Spread that seed you Galahs, take it to Tassie. You will be doing the country a massive favour!!
Posted by allmattergreen, 26/11/2008 8:44:03 AM
I suppose Stock and Land will soon be reporting "Claims" from GM farmers about their yields, and "Claims" from the GM crop developers about their product.
Posted by Madeleine Love, 26/11/2008 9:59:39 AM
The first year and only a handful of farmers growing GM canola, and we already have evidence of the contamination that the bitoechs assured us was not going to happen. Lax regulation supports the the biotech imperative to contaminate their GM-free competitors out of the market. How long will it be before we have the same situation as the US where 32 of 33 certified non-GM seed stocks were GM contaiminated, and where it's virtually impossible to get non-GM canola?
Posted by Greg Revell, 26/11/2008 10:56:00 AM
STOP PRESS! Farmers growing GM canola on the east coast of Australia are getting EXACTLY the same price for their canola as their conventional counterparts. Well I'll be ... the anti-GM campaign is dead in the water and appears likely to have been a suite of arguments boiled up by a bunch of bored housewives. Move over ... Australian farmers need to get on with the job of keeping this Australian economy ticking over now the mining boom is history. The silent majority on the land are very sick and tired of this pointless debate. The world has no choice - GM is going to be a very valuable tool for global food security.
Posted by Nuffield, 26/11/2008 12:09:18 PM
This is a complete disgrace! It's blatantly obvious that the Vic government is only concerned with the interests of the giant agrochemcial companies at the expense of our health, the environment, economic benefits from staying GM free, market accessability and common sense.
Posted by Ian, 26/11/2008 1:25:55 PM
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