News: Victorian farmers question benefits of GM crops after 3 years
There is a great article on GM crops in Victoria in today’s The Age. It provides a clear overview of the issues around the use of the crops, as well as benefits and criticisms. About 20% of Victoria’s canola crop this year will be GM; that’s 40,000 hectares.
Read the article – ‘The seeds of discontent’ by Geoff Strong.
The article gets really interesting, though, when one farmer says this will likely be the last year he uses the technology because “the outcome has not matched the promise”. John Sheehan has recorded no increases in yields of his GM canola crops, instead has found his costs have increased. Another farmer, Ricky Miles, says the costs of license fees to grow the crops, plus seed and pesticide costs, mean he won’t be growing the GM crop this year. He also reported no increase in yield and “there were only a few places where he could sell his GM grain – and at $12 a tonne less than non-GM grain”.
Setting aside the other concerns people may have about GM crops – environmental, health, ethical, and more – these reports from the farming frontline about costs, yields and pesticide resistances will serve as another warning about the consequences of GM farming.
Remember to use the True Food Guide included in Food Advisor Australia to check on the GM status of the items in your shopping trolley – go to the Search tab in the app and type in a brand name, or use the Browse tab and Brands button to look through the guide.
May 12, 2010
Tags: food production, food sources, GE/GM, news article, policy, truefood guide Posted in: News
One Response
So glad you published this valuable info. Thankyou.
Leave a Reply