Continue with GM: Park

The Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc.) (WAFarmers) is calling for the continued use of Genetically Modified (GM) crops, as part of its 2013 Western Australian State Election Policy.

WAFarmers President, Dale Park, said WAFarmers’ Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) policy has, for a number of years, supported the technology through the appropriate use of GM crops governed by industry-agreed protocols relating to storage, transport and buffer zones. 

“WAFarmers continues to work with the broader industry to ensure that ‘co-existence’ is more than a word which is constrained by a multitude of interpretations,” Mr Park said.

“The use of GM is still a very polarising topic, and unfortunately, this sometimes removes the opportunity for a debate around buffer zones, tolerance levels and market acceptance based on facts, reason and level-headed discussion.”

As the State’s farmers continue to adopt GM technology, WAFarmers has attempted to engage a range of parties to establish a broad dialogue on co-existence.

“Our discussions with other parties, regarding GM use, have drawn a range of responses, however few of them with enough discussion on this topic to reach a satisfactory solution to all parties.

“WAFarmers want a commitment for any State Government to allow the State’s farmers the choice on GM crops and continue to legislate for their use,” Mr Park concluded.

THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN FARMERS FEDERATION (INC.) (WAFARMERS) GM POLICY

WAFarmers supports the lifting of the current State Government moratorium on the commercial release of GM canola. 

WAFarmers supports future research and development into GM crops and pastures.

WAFarmers supports Australian and State Government tolerance levels of 0.9 per cent in crops and 0.5 per cent in seeds.

WAFarmers supports the OGTR and its charter to protect the health and safety of Australians and the Australian environment.

WAFarmers supports further development of protocols for the commercialisation of GM grains in the WA grains industry including intellectual property rights, contamination, segregation, licensing, protection of individual growers and legal liability issues.

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