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WEEKLY WATCH number 233 (11/11/2007)

WEEKLY WATCH number 233
from Claire Robinson, WEEKLY WATCH editor
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Dear all:

Opposition to GM crops is hardening in Europe (EUROPE).

Meanwhile, Canadian research puts paid to the old industry lie that if transgenes escaped into the wild, they almost certainly wouldn't persist (NEW RESEARCH).

And Australia's largest food maufacturer is pitching in against a corporate political fix in States like Victoria - a fix intended to exclude not just Australia's farmers and consumers from having a say on the future of their food and farming but that even bypasses Government-supporting Members of Parliament. Now that's what I call a mandate. (AUSTRALASIA)

Claire [email protected]
www.gmwatch.org / www.lobbywatch.org

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CONTENTS
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AUSTRALASIA
EUROPE
GM RICE CONTAMINATION: INDIA, UK
ASIA
NEW RESEARCH
AFRICA
THE AMERICAS
LOBBYWATCH
AGROFUELS

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AUSTRALASIA
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+ BRUMBY'S FIX RUMBLED
With a decision by State governments in New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria regarding the lifting of State moratoria on GM crops expected within the next week, the Premier of Victoria John Brumby's role in the GM debate has come under scrutiny. Brumby is a known GM supporter and his handling of the issue has caused concern among some state Labor MPs, not least because they will get no say in the final decision on whether to lift the ban.

According to reports in The Age, people are also incensed that the Premier had allowed his parliamentary secretary to lead the pro-GM push within the party. Questions have also been raised about the independence of the head of the 'independent panel' - Sir Gus - appointed by the Government to consider lifting the ban. Sir Gus had previously expressed his support for getting rid of the ban, saying it amounted to 'crass populism' and he considered it 'bad politics'.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8469

Recent surveys show most farmers and consumers in Australia are unhappy with GM crops.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8421
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8343

+ AUSTRALIA'S LARGEST FOOD MANUFACTURER BACKS GM MORATORIUM
Food giant Goodman Fielder has urged all state governments to continue their moratorium on GM food crops. In a letter to all state premiers, Goodman Fielder chief executive Peter Margin said consumers preferred GM-free food because of the uncertainty surrounding the long-term effects of GM crops on human health. He added that Australia's current competitive advantage on international grain markets because of its GM-free status, and uncertainty about the performance of GM crops compared to traditional crops, were further reasons to continue the moratorium. Margin told the state premiers, 'Australia's current status as a GM-free producer gives the company an essential international competitive advantage.'
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8463
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8469

+ WHERE'S THE EVIDENCE OF GM BENEFITS FOR AUSTRALIA?
There's a report out by pro-GM lobbyist Rick Roush of Melbourne University claiming Australian yields of canola (oilseed rape) are in decline because farmers there haven't been able to grow GM canola. However, as Kim Chance, Western Australia's agriculture minister, has noted, this claim conveniently ignores the climatic conditions in recent years when Australia has experienced some of the worst droughts in its history.

Now Chance has called for independent performance trials before any recommendation of GM crops to Western Australian farmers. Said Chance, 'There is no firm evidence, from the limited Australian trials, of increased yields from using GM canola varieties.'

The Roush report also claims that Canada's farmers are reaping massive benefits from GM canola. But this hardly tallies with the falling net farm income, rising debt and increasing dependence on off-farm income and massive subsidies being experienced by Canadian farmers.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8453
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8454

+ AUSTRALIAN FARMERS CALL FOR GM PERFORMANCE TRIALS
The Network of Concerned Farmers (NCF), a coalition of farmers with concerns over GM crops, has called for accurate economic reports based on independent performance trials on GM canola prior to any lifting of State GM moratoria.

'Positive economic reports have been based on misleading information of advantages that are not offered and costs that are not included,' said Julie Newman, WA farmer and NCF national spokesperson.

Farmers are not being offered any GM variety better than the non-GM varieties we already have, yet we are being promised a range of misleading promises.'

NCF points out that both New South Wales and Western Australia offered to allow plantings of GM canola in independent performance trials which would establish if a yield advantage is offered but GM companies refused to participate.

Jeremy Tager adds that Bayer backed out of the trials after the Agriculture Minister of New South Wales insisted that they would be comparative, independent and that all results would be publicly released.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8453
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8454

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EUROPE
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