GM canola would boost output
[ UniNews Vol. 12, No. 6
21 April - 5 May 2003 ]
The grains industry will produce $135 million more canola and wheat each year if genetically modified canola is adopted by Australian farmers, according to a University of Melbourne report.
The report, by Dr Robert Norton of the Universitys School of Agriculture and Food Systems, presents a scenario that Australian farmers could adopt.
The scenario is based on GM canola replacing 50 per cent of current triazine tolerant (TT) canola and 40 per cent of conventional canola, and allowing 160,000 hectares of additional GM canola planting.
The scenario suggests significant economic and environmental advantages from the introduction of new GM herbicide-tolerant canola varieties, says Dr Norton.
Adoption of these varieties gives farmers additional options that include controlling problem weeds in canola crops, earlier sowing and replacement of triazine tolerant canola, he says.
The reports key findings are:
An extra 200,000 hectares of canola could be grown under conservation farming practices; that is, maintenance of soil resources through minimal tillage and stubble retention.
640 tonnes less triazine herbicide would be used each year because of changes to weed management systems.
Average Australian canola yields would increase from 1.27 tonnes per hectare to 1.38 tonnes per hectare, with an increase in canola production estimated at 295,000 tonnes annually.
Canola plantings would expand by 160,000 hectares in dryer cropping areas.
In rotation with GM canola, wheat production would increase by 64,000 tonnes on this additional canola area.
Holistic appraisal
Laureate Professor Adrienne Clarke of the University of Melbourne, an Australian pioneer of plant gene technology and former President of the International Society for Plant Molecular Biology, says the report finds that GM canola could make the industry more sustainable through better integrated weed management and soil conservation practices.
This report is a holistic appraisal of how canola production systems will evolve with the introduction of GM, she says.
It sets out the economic and environmental case for the introduction of this technology.
The scenario outcomes were developed from an extensive review of published Australian research.
The report was commissioned by Avcare, the National Association for Crop Production and Animal Health.
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