On the 3rd March the NSW and Victorian State Governments will lift their moratorium on the growing of Genetically Modified Canola.
GMOs are grown in a few other countries and concerns have been expressed by environmentalists, farmers, health practitioners and independent researchers.
AILDM has a strong environmental ethic which has led to the National Council’s recent decision to voice our concerns to the Premiers, Ministers for Primary Industry and Ministers for Environment of both states.
We will be writing letters urging them to continue with their moratorium on all GMOs until rigorous independent research has assessed the possible consequences of GMOs on the environment as well as on human and animal health.
As horticulturists we are well aware of the wonder of our planet’s natural systems and the delicate balance that allows life on Earth to flourish. We regularly witness how interfering with these systems, even in a simple manner, can cause unimaginable problems.
We are also aware that natural selection has allowed communities to grow produce suited to their specific environmental conditions.
GM products cannot occur naturally in any way and once released into the environment cannot be reversed.
As an example Roundup-Ready© canola. has been physically injected with a gene of a bacterium which was found to be resistant to Roundup©. Weeds are sprayed and the canola continues to grow. Sounds good in theory but the reality is that some weeds survive and become resistant to Roundup© resulting in the use of greater quantities and stronger concentrations of herbicides.
A further problem is that canola, a member of the Brassicaceae family is a very promiscuous plant and freely hybridizes with non GE canola and weed members of the family. The result of this is ‘pollution’ of pure or organic varieties of canola but even worse the production of Roundup© resistant weeds. None of these issues are being adequately addressed by the NSW and Victorian governments or the manufacturers, Monsanto.
Once GM Canola takes hold the floodgates are open for other GM crops like corn and soybeans and the genetic modifications in these are potentially far more dangerous.
AILDM will take an environmental stance on this issue and urge both governments to continue with their moratorium until rigorous testing, assessment and reporting have taken place.
We also ask AILDM members to write to their local members as well as the ministers responsible for the ultimate decision.
Deadline – 3rd March.
