Press Release

Agriculture Minister Terry Redman’s announcement today of a lifting on the ban on GM cotton signals the end of a ‘technology dark age’ for WA agriculture, PGA Western Graingrowers spokesman Leon Bradley said today.

“We are hoping this is a signal not only for Kimberley producers to proceed to harvest the substantial benefits of GM cotton, but also for grain producers in the agricultural areas to be able to grow GM canola and other crops sooner than later.”

Mr Bradley said former Agriculture Minister Kim Chance and his government had banned GM technology at enormous cost to WA producers, on the basis of badly flawed advice.

“The result is that farmers in WA are already several years behind the Eastern States and almost a decade behind their counterparts in other countries.”

He said a Kimberley cotton industry would be not be possible without the GM varieties that increase yields and reduce the need for fuel fertilisers and chemicals.

“The new government has fortunately been quick to see GM cotton as a key to expanding the Ord River irrigation area,” Mr Bradley said.

“That move is commended and hopefully will mean a rapid end to the costly GM embargo over other farming areas of the State.”