Aussie Farmers Await GM Crops

The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) has urged State Governments in Australia to seize the opportunities that biotechnology poses for Australia's agricultural production base, and called for an end of moratoria on genetically modified (GM) crops. Farmers now want to have a choice on which production methods to pursue – be GM, conventional, organic or any combination of these methods - to meet their needs.

“It is the marketplace – both domestic and international – that is demanding the introduction of GM crops. The ‘status quo’ will not do. State and Territory Governments must not arbitrarily deny farmers pursuing sensible, scientifically-proven and time-tested methods of production," says NFF. But Australia’s rigorous regulatory system, and the careful process required to meet commercialisation, means that new GM plant varieties are unlikely to be ready for another seven years. Meanwhile, farmers are waiting.

Read the full article at http://www.nff.org.au/read/2441033998.html.