http://www.abc.net.au/ra/programguide/stories/200806/s2263526.htm
[This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/ra/programguide/stories/200806/s2263526.htm]
Co-operative to fill Japan’s GM free canola demand
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Updated June 3, 2008 11:56:39
A small farmers’ cooperative on the Australian island state of Tasmania is taking advantage of the demand in Japan for genetically-modified free canola.
Presenter: Bo Hill reports
Speakers: Michiyo Koketsu, No! GMO campaigner, Consumers Union of Japan; Keith Pengilley, Tasmanian Agricultural Producers; David Crombie, President, National Farmers Federation; Peter Lloyd, Emeritus Professor, Faculty of Economics, Melbourne University
HILL: More than 10 years ago, the Japanese government approved the introduction of genetically modified soy bean, maize and canola. The same year, the No! GMO Campaign was launched by the Consumers Union Of Japan. Part of the campaign’s efforts are focused on the GM-free canola suppliers of Australia – convincing farmers to remain GM-free for the 80 per cent of Japanese shoppers who the Consumers Union says do not want GM products on their supermarket shelves. Michiyo Koketsu, a No! GMO campaigner with the Union travelled to the southern Australian state of Victoria in February to lobby farmers to remain GM-free. She will be attending forums in Western Australia next month to repeat the message.
KOKETSU: We told them Australian canola is very important for Japanese consumers because only Australia supplies GM-free canola in the world. We want Australian farmers to continue to cultivate GM-free canola.
HILL: While most states and territories in Australia remain genetically modified free, the two eastern states of Victoria and New South Wales lifted their ban earlier this year. Most farmers have yet to take up the option, but Ms Koketsu says the move has changed Japan’s supply focus to those states which continue to be completely GM-free. A local farmers cooperative on the island state of Tasmania has capitalised on the demand. Keith Pengilley from the Tasmanian Agricultural Producers told ABC Radio in Tasmania that opportunity came knocking.
PENGILLEY: They came to us and said we’re looking for a reliable area to grow canola, a state that looks as though it will not be going down the GM line in the near future and they identified Tasmania as a reliable area to grow canola. So they came to us and said – this is what we do, can you produce canola to meet our specification which is GM-free which we can market in Japan as Tasmanian-grown canola.”
HILL: The Tasmanian Agricultural Producers Cooperative, along with other local suppliers, produced a harvest of 800 tonnes this year and are looking at increase that two-fold over the next year. But it doesn’t meet the 5000 tonne requirement in Japan. Supply will continue to come from other GM-free states as well as GM-free crops in Victoria and New South Wales where some farmers have begun planting GM canola crops. This has Michiyo Koketsu, from the No! GMO Campaign in Japan, worried.
KOKETSU: Of course we are very concerned because we know if the GM canola plant contamination definitely happen of course, so we are very concerned about the contamination from these two states.
HILL: Australian National Farmers Federation president, David Crombie, says the industry is already well-equipped to avoid contamination.
CROMBIE: If the Japanese market specifically says they want GM-free product – that’s fine they should specify that and then its up to the canola industry and the canola industry, the grains industry has developed a stewardship plan and this is a stewardship plan for handling GM canola through-chain to prevent cross-pollination and to prevent contamination.
HILL: Professor Peter Lloyd is Emeritus Professor at the Faculty of Economics at Melbourne University. He agrees with David Crombie that the Australian agricultural industry has an excellent record of segregation and says the advantages of genetically modified canola could see further states of Australia lift GM bans.
LLOYD: Genetically-modified canola has a number of agronomic advantages leading to higher yields for farmers and almost all of the canola produced in Australia is used for domestic consumption, mainly canola oil. Both GM canola and GM-free canola can be sold in Australia without any difficulty. I think the other states – Western Australia in particular and South Australia being major grain-growing states may very well follow suit.
HILL: Japanese consumer campaigner, Michiyo Koketsu, is concerned about the potential lack of completely GM-free areas. She says she will use her visit to Western Australia next month to lobby farmers to protect the shrinking supply.
KOKETSU: No other country can supply GM-free canola now, only Australia.
ABC Online
