GE canola unwanted, Monsanto withdraws

[Paul Sheridan]

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Media Release						12 May, 2004

GE canola unwanted, Monsanto withdraws

The decision by Monsanto to end its GE canola-breeding program in Australia confirms just how unpopular GE crops are and sends a strong message to the Carr Government to reject any further applications to grow trial crops, Greens MLC Ian Cohen said today.

"Monsanto's withdrawal from Australia is an admission of its failure to force GE crops onto farmers and consumers.

"The Carr Government, surely, must now be able to see the writing on the wall: the community does not want GE crops in this state."

Mr Cohen said Monsanto's withdrawal left the NSW Farmers Association and biotech company Bayer out on their own as pro-GE crops.

"If farmers don't want it and consumers don't want it, why does the NSW Farmers Association continue to support trials of GE crops?

"Bayer is now exposed to the reality that it is the only company applying to grow commercial-sized trials of GE canola in NSW.

"The reality that large biotech companies are prepared to jeopardise NSW's non-GE markets for their own commercial gain is obvious to the farming community. Bayer should recognise this and not proceed with any further applications to grow large trial GE crops.

Mr Cohen said the Carr Government should act to strengthen its moratorium and protect farmers and consumers against the side effects of that greed, such as farmers being liable for contamination of their own crops.
 
"The Premier made an election commitment last year that 'a re-elected State Labor Government will place a three-year ban on the commercial release of genetically modified food crops in NSW - such as canola, clover, mustard and field pea'.

"The Premier also said 'Once the wide scale planting of GE crops begins in NSW, we cannot go back.' Stand by your own words, Premier, and ensure no contamination of our food crops by GE organisms is possible by refusing to allow any GE food crops to be grown, ever."


Further information: Paul Sheridan, ph: 0410 516 656.




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