GM Canola Yield Triples in Western Australia

The Australian Oilseeds Federation (AOF) estimates that national GM canola acreage more than tripled as a result of the commercialization of genetically modified (GM) canola in Western Australia. Despite having been grown for only a year in Western Australia, planting of GM canola is over 50 percent of total production. AOF projects that GM plantings will make up around 8 percent of the total canola crop of around 1.61 million hectares.

"This rapid uptake by technologically savvy Australian growers supports how useful the GM varieties can be in a production system to better manage weeds, reduce tillage, lower fuel use and provide alternatives to residual herbicides," said Peter O'Keeffe, head of Monsanto Australia. He added that figures "clearly indicate that approved GM canola varieties are being embraced by farmers, and that the NSW, Victorian and Western Australian government's decisions have benefited agriculture by enabling choice-based access to the technology."

For the original article see http://sl.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/grains-and-cropping/general/gm-plantings-explode/1880219.aspx?storypage=1