If they want it, Tasmanian farmers should have access to leading world gene technology in order to make the optimum use of their land to help feed the world, the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association said today.
TFGA chief executive Jan Davis was commenting on the state government’s release today of the terms of reference for a review of Tasmania’s moratorium on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in primary industries. The ban expires in November 2014.
“We welcome this government review. Much has changed in this area in the past five years, and it is timely to have another look at this policy. However, this must be an open and transparent process; not merely tick-a-box window dressing. The government’s own research has shown that there is little evidence of commercial benefit from the current ban, so we expect to see detailed benefit/cost analyses of a range of options to ensure that the consequences of whatever decision is eventually made are clear to everyone,” Ms Davis said.
“Farming is a business and farm enterprises should have access to the widest range of land use options to maximise their productive capacity and their profitability. Tasmanian farmers operate in highly competitive commercial markets. With world demand for food creasing rapidly, they need to have access to a range of modern tools of trade including technologies such as GM,” she added.
“The results of GM research enable farmers to produce optimum crops in the world’s best growing environment, if they choose to do so. That is the point.
“At the same time, if individual farmers wish to remain GMO-free, they should feel confident that, with the appropriate biosecurity controls in place, they can produce non-GMO crops without risk of contamination.
Ms Davis said that, alongside the government review, the TFGA would also consult its members to update its existing policy, which supports a systematic case-by-case consideration of GMO crops rather than an across-the-board ban.
TFGA chief executive Jan Davis
