Greens warn Growers of Gene food dangers

Tuesday, 03 April 2001 10:00

Speakers from a range of environmental and consumer organisations have been invited to address concerned growers in Culcairn shire on the risks of genetically engineered crops.

Multinational agribusiness company Monsanto wants to establish herbicide tolerant canola trial crops in the shire, between Wagga and Albury. Local conventional growers are concerned on the impact this may have on their crops and trade prospects.

In order to assess the potential problems, concerned growers and community members have invited speakers from both sides of the argument to present their cases.

"Given that the region exported 26 000 tonnes of GE free canola oil to Europe last year, there is a very real concern that contamination of their crops with GE strains of canola will cost them their European export status. This will force them to trade with countries like the US, Canada, and Brazil where there is already a glut of GE produce, probably at lower rates" said Mark Oakwood, genetic engineering campaigner with the NSW Total Environment Centre. Oakwood is one of the environment speakers invited to address the meeting to be held in Henty tonight.

In 58 "secret" trials in Tasmania over the last three years, contamination of conventional crops with GE strains occurred at at least eleven sites. Secrecy has meant that growers in Tasmania do not know if their crops are likely to be contaminated or not, and they have to pay to get seeds and produce tested in order to ensure their crops are GE free.

"Where are the guarantees that this will not happen again in Culcairn shire? It is ludicrous that an American multinational like Monsanto is being permitted by the Australian Federal government to treat growers and their produce with contempt. Surely the rights of Australian producers and consumers comes before the interests of giant multinationals," concluded Oakwood.