The Tasmanian Greens today warned that Tasmanian primary producers who benefit from Tasmania’s GE moratorium were in serious danger of being drowned out by a noisy pro-GE lobby.
Greens Primary Industries spokesperson Kim Booth MP today urged producers with a stake in Tasmania’s clean and green brand to lodge a submission with the State Government’s review of the GE moratorium before October 11.
“The huge benefits of the Tasmania’s GE moratorium are there for everyone to see,” Mr Booth said.
“Right now there are a large number of Tasmanian producers and exporters who benefit massively from the moratorium, and they stand to lose everything if it is lifted.”
“Lifting the moratorium in Tasmania will undermine the significant market for our primary producers who rely on our clean, green GMO brand.”
“Pro-GM lobbyists argue that we need to lift the moratorium so as to be competitive in a non-differentiated commodity market.”
“We’ve tried this with many other industries and haven’t been successful we’re just going back twenty years if we try to do it again.”
“There are massive and growing markets in Asia and Europe for non-GMO products, and that’s where Tasmania’s real marketing opportunities lie.”
• Organics Tasmania and the Safe Food Foundation are co-hosting two forums for primary producers and the food industry:
What advantage does a GMO moratorium offer Tasmania?
Thursday 3rd October, 2013
Launceston
12.30pm – 2pm – Conference Room 3, DPIPWE Prospect Offices, 171 Westbury Road, Prospect.
Hobart
6.30 – 8pm – The Philip Smith Centre, 2 Edward St, Glebe.
Speakers
Terry Moore, GMO-ID Australia – certifiers to the CERT ID NON GM global standard
Bob Mackley, broadacre farmer from the Wimmera
Lindsay Burke, President of the Tasmania Beekeepers Association
Chaired by Jim Rossiter from the Tasmanian Government’s Food Industry Advisory Council.
The Tasmanian Government is currently reviewing its moratorium on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and is inviting representations from all sectors of the community.
To ensure balanced and fair discussions of the issues in keeping or removing the GMO Moratorium, we invite you to participate in a day of discussions.
The proceedings will include short presentations with significant time devoted to open and frank discussion of the issues, facts and opportunities.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Download:
• Earlier on Tasmanian Times: March Against Monsanto in Hobart
