20 February 2019
CropLife Australia, the national peak industry body for the plant science sector, strongly welcomes today’s release of the independent review of the South Australian Genetically Modified Food Crop Moratorium.
Matthew Cossey, Chief Executive Officer of CropLife Australia, commended the Minister Whetstone and the South Australian Government for having policy development guided by facts, data and independent analysis.
Mr Cossey said, “The report’s findings confirm that South Australian farmers have been held back by the moratorium, which is estimated to have cost the state’s canola industry $33 million since 2004.
“Evidence provided to the review, and reflected in its findings, is the moratorium delivers no price premium or additional market access and has discouraged investment in public and private research and development. The review also found the cultivation of GM crops would increase productivity and provide environmental benefits for South Australia.”
The findings mirror a recent report by independent market analysts Mecardo which provided clear evidence that the South Australian GM crop moratorium has not delivered any benefit to the state’s farming sector. It found South Australian farmers had been denied the chance to increase profitability and environmental sustainability by not having access to GM crops.
Mr Cossey continued, “I commend Professor Kym Anderson AC on a thorough report, which acknowledged the strong evidence from the agriculture and science sectors of the benefits and opportunities GM crops could provide for South Australia.”
Mr Cossey concluded, “CropLife Australia looks forward to the South Australian Government’s response and outlining a path forward for genuine farmer choice in SA.”