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AUS – SA EXTENDS BAN BY ONE YEAR
South Australian govt defends planned GM crop ban extension
18 September 2006. Source: ABC News Online
The South Australian Government has defended its plan to extend a moratorium on growing genetically modified (GM) crops, saying it has benefits in the global market.
A ban is in place until 2007, but the Government wants to extend it by a year to bring the state in line with the rest of the country.
The former head of the South Australian Farmer's Federation, John Lush, has called for the ban to be overturned.
He says drought-resistant GM crops could save farmers millions of dollars.
Agriculture Minister Rory McEwen says being GM-free opens up markets, adding, "We must not put markets at risk and that is very important, that Australia continue to build a clean green image. It might be the differentiation we need in a global market place, that gives us the extra returns. There actually might be significant market benefits by being the odd one out."
Centre for Plant Functional Genomics plant geneticist Mark Tester says the ban makes no sense, stating, "The Canadian farmers don't have any [problems] selling their GM crops. The US farmers have no problems exporting their GM crops and I think the Australian farmer is seeing that. If there are markets out there to purchase GM crops ... we will be able to sell GM crops. There's a clear benefit."
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