WHY AUSTRALIA’S GROWERS & THE ENVIRONMENT NEED GMO TECHNOLOGY

Media Release, Thursday 9 August 2007

“The issue of GM technology in agriculture is critical to the future of rural Australia. We ignore it at our own peril. We must farm in the real world, not the ideal world. This technology has the potential to produce clear environmental benefits and put money into the hands of farmers, rural communities and the people of Australia.”- Andrew Broad, Director of the Future Farmers Network

The University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Land and Food Resources will be hosting a forum on GM technology on Tuesday 14 August 2007 from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm at Dookie Campus. The forum is free with Morning Tea and Lunch provided. Those wishing to attend should RSVP to Sarah Parker on (03) 5833 9274, 0427 535 721 or email saparker@unimelb.edu.au

Speakers for the forum include:

• Professor Rick Roush, Dean of the Faculty of Land & Food Resources, University of Melbourne,
• Dr Ken Young, Senior Lecturer in Crop Agronomy, Faculty of Land and Food Resources
• Andrew Broad, Director of the Future Farmers Network & Nuffield Farming Scholar.

With the Victorian moratorium on cultivation of GM canola due to end in February 2008, presentations will be of great interest to users, consumers and organisations that may market genetically modified crops in the future.

Best known for his work on pesticide resistance and its management, Professor Roush will draw on his research experience in agricultural crops and natural ecosystems in the various parts of the world including the US and Australia to deliver a session focussing on the key issues for the sustainability of agriculture including conservation of soil, water and energy, and reduction of the use of fertilizers and so-called “bad actor” pesticides. Reduction of fossil fuel use, tillage and nitrogen fertilizers are especially important for reducing greenhouse gasses, we also need to ensure that farmers remain financially viable.

“Genetically modified crops already commercialized or in field trials have helped to address all of these needs. GM cops have reduced the use of insecticides by 80% on cotton in China and India, reduced tillage has in turn reduced CO2 emissions by the equivalent of removing some 4 millions cars from the roads, and increased farmer profits. Drought tolerant and nitrogen-use-efficient crops have been field-trialed and show good yields.”

From 1995 Professor Rick Roush spent eight years in Australia, first as an Associate Professor in the Department of Crop Protection at the University of Adelaide and later, as Chief Executive Officer of the Cooperative Research Centre for Weed Management.

Dr Ken Young will focus on the need for change in both research funding arrangements and regulation of GMO technology in order to increase the potential environmental and health benefits to the community. While the community is becoming more accepting of GMOs, this technology needs to approach the end users of the technology by targeting more environmental and health aspects that GMOs can bring.

A Lecturer in Crop Agronomy at the Dookie Campus, Dr Young believes:
“The adoption of GMO technology offers agriculture opportunities to improve land stewardship, sustainability, niche markets and human health benefits. While this array of opportunities are possible, the presently marketed products are for production oriented traits such as herbicide tolerance and insect resistance. There appears little development for the more altruistic traits such as better nutritional food value and better environmental outcomes.”

Andrew Broad will focus his presentation on best practice canola production: Exploring
biotechnology, agronomic advances and new grower techniques.
“The issue of GM technology in agriculture is critical to the future of rural Australia. We ignore it at our own peril. We must farm in the real world, not the ideal world. This technology has the potential to produce clear environmental benefits and put money into the hands of farmers, rural communities and the people of Australia. There are large benefits to be gained through biotechnology.”

Genetically modified crops aren’t the ‘silver bullet’ for agriculture. Some of the dollar savings in chemicals offered through GM crops will be swallowed up in plant breeder royalties. However, the benefits are very good and if Australia is to remain competitive, the grains industry must have access to this technology.

The reduction in both chemicals and nitrogen fertilizer will have positive outcomes for the environment, as well as the rotational options that this technology offers. The huge move toward bio-diesel, with Europe aiming for 15% by 2015 will increase the need for energy crops; genomic and transgenic will play an important role in this.

For further information including photographs, please contact Sarah Parker on 0427 535 721 or email saparker@unimelb.edu.au