GREENPEACE MEDIA RELEASE
Activists show – GE CANOLA KNOWS NO BORDERS
Ardno, Victoria, Australia, Sunday 16 March 2008: Greenpeace activists trained in procedures for dealing with genetic hazardous materials, have entered a genetically engineered (GE) canola field trial near the border of South Australia. The activists have unfurled a giant 20m x 30m banner in the field, reading ’GE CANOLA KNOWS NO BORDERS’. The action comes two days after the New South Wales (NSW) Government officially announced that it would join Victoria in commercially growing GE canola.
The activity sends a strong message to State governments that GE canola crops can cross state borders and contaminate conventional GE crops. It highlights that the NSW and Victorian Governments have no adequate measures in place to deal with the serious issues caused by GE contamination.
Greenpeace genetic engineering coordinator Michelle Sheather said, "The minority states of NSW and Victoria are threatening the entire country’s GE free status by allowing the first commercial release of GE canola. This GE canola field trial has just been harvested and is contaminated by GE canola debris. What procedures have been put in place to contain this harvest, transport and clean up? In Australia it will be impossible to prevent GE canola from contaminating non-GE crops or cross-breeding with other weed species."
"The NSW and Victorian State governments must implement and explain in detail the contamination procedures they intend to set in place to protect farmers, food companies, and consumers from the unwanted contamination of our fields and foods," said Ms Sheather.
An annual report on global GE contamination incidents was released by Greenpeace International and Gene Watch UK last week, and presented to the United Nations. It highlighted that Argentina, rejected GE canola because of contamination issues.
GE canola can cross-pollinate with conventional canola and other weeds, creating ’superweeds’, permanently resistant to glyphosate (Roundup). Farmers must then resort to highly toxic sprays to control them. Argentina rejected GE canola precisely for this reason, and Australia should take these concerns extremely seriously. Recent Canadian research has confirmed that cross-pollination between canola and weed species has occurred in Canada.
The South Australian Government recently announced it would extend its ban on GE canola, due to concerns over loss of markets such as Japan and Europe. Australian canola currently attracts preferential market access and premiums because of its GE free status.
"There is a real threat that GE canola will cross the South Australian border and contaminate other farmers crops. The Victorian and NSW Governments should not act alone on this issue. The threats that GE crops pose to Australia’s environment, public health and the economy are too grave," concluded Ms Sheather.
