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Australia GM canola hopes fade with state ban |
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| AUSTRALIA: May 9, 2003 | ||
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SYDNEY - The Australian state of Victoria banned commercial genetically modified (GM) canola growing for at least a year yesterday, making it unlikely such crops will be planted anywhere in Australia this year.
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Some scientists say gene technology could help solve world hunger as GM crops produce higher yields and are disease-and drought-resistant. Opponents, however, say growing such crops threatens the environment with cross-pollination. "We do not agree on the need for a moratorium (but) we are committed to working with the Victorian government to ensure the benefits of GM canola are available to farmers for the longer term," a spokeswoman for Bayer CropScience (BAYG.DE) said. The moratorium in Victoria was called to allow a study of its impact on export markets, the state's agriculture minister said. The decision comes around a month after federal authorities cleared the way for Bayer to commercially release GM canola in Australia, subject to an eight-week public consultation period. Queensland was the only Australian state currently supportive of agricultural biotechnology, the Bayer spokeswoman said. "Canola is not a widely grown crop in Queensland, but it is possible we might plant some (commercial) InVigor hybrid canola in Queensland," said the spokeswoman. Monsanto Co (MON.N), which also has an application in for a commercial GM canola release, is still looking for federal regulatory approval. Canola is widely used as a cooking oil.
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REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
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