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By Cameron Wilson
Thursday, 28/08/2008
The prospect of Tasmania extending its moratorium on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for another five years has drawn a mixed reaction from farmers.A parliamentary Joint Select Committee examining Tasmania's GMO policy has recommended, "the state's prohibition on the release of GM food crops to the Tasmanian environment for commercial purposes be extended and reviewed after five years".The Committee also recommended a ban on the importation of animal feed containing "viable GMOs".The recommendation has been criticised by Tasmanian farmer Ian McKinnon."It's fairy short sighted. I think to lock things down for five years is ridiculous. "Australia's agriculture, not just Tasmania's, needs all the available tools to be successful in international markets and compete with our competitors overseas who have access to these technologies."The decision was welcomed be meat processors Greenham & Sons, a company that exports beef to a number of Asian countries.Peter Greenham jnr says it's the type of recommendation he had been hoping for."The whole time [we've been] saying, we've been GM free, what has changed recently, we are really now starting to see markets emerging and saying there's a lot more GMO in the world and people are starting to wake up and say 'is this good for us'?"
In this report: Peter Greenham jnr, Greenham & Sons Pty Ltd; Ian McKinnon, canola grower
Thursday, 28/08/2008
The prospect of Tasmania extending its moratorium on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for another five years has drawn a mixed reaction from farmers.A parliamentary Joint Select Committee examining Tasmania's GMO policy has recommended, "the state's prohibition on the release of GM food crops to the Tasmanian environment for commercial purposes be extended and reviewed after five years".The Committee also recommended a ban on the importation of animal feed containing "viable GMOs".The recommendation has been criticised by Tasmanian farmer Ian McKinnon."It's fairy short sighted. I think to lock things down for five years is ridiculous. "Australia's agriculture, not just Tasmania's, needs all the available tools to be successful in international markets and compete with our competitors overseas who have access to these technologies."The decision was welcomed be meat processors Greenham & Sons, a company that exports beef to a number of Asian countries.Peter Greenham jnr says it's the type of recommendation he had been hoping for."The whole time [we've been] saying, we've been GM free, what has changed recently, we are really now starting to see markets emerging and saying there's a lot more GMO in the world and people are starting to wake up and say 'is this good for us'?"
In this report: Peter Greenham jnr, Greenham & Sons Pty Ltd; Ian McKinnon, canola grower
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