Contract harvesters unhappy / GM canola contamination disaster (15/10/2005) | |
1.Contract harvesters unhappy GM protocols not established 1.Contract harvesters unhappy GM protocols not established They say with harvest just around the corner, there is no protection for them against liability claims should they be accused of transporting contaminated material from farm to farm. President of the Australian Grain Harvesters Association, John Murphy, says it is worrying that no-one knows for sure which crops might contain contaminated material. "That is one of the biggest worries that as harvesters ... I mean, it's getting close to harvest, the liability of us contaminating someone else's product, someone else' property is a major worry to us as an industry and that is why we have been attempting to get a protocol that is acceptable," he said. 2.AUSTRALIAN CERTIFIED ORGANIC "The announcement on the ABC News last night of 0.5% contamination of canola seed sold commercially to a Victorian canola farmer, Geoffrey Carracher, is a nightmare for organic grain farmers", said Mr Scott Kinnear spokesperson for BFA and ACO today. "Contamination of organic grain production is a very real possibility in Australia with this latest announcement. While the loss of premiums due to GM contamination might be arguable with conventional grains, it is a major reality with organic grains where premiums can be up to 100% above conventional prices." Contamination can occur via the following means: * Organic farmers buys contaminated seed to plant * Pollen flow from contaminated canola crop affects organic canola crop * GM grains are carried to organic farm by contract harvesters who have previously harvested contaminated conventional crops The Biological Farmers of Australia through our subsidiary company Australian Certified Organic are responsible for certifying more than half of the organic production in Australia. "BFA and ACO believe that State Governments have acted responsibly in adopting moratoriums to protect the rights of GM free farmers including organic." "We urge State Governments where canola is grown commercially to move quickly to ensure that farmers including organic are not left to pay for any loss of premium prices and the cost of testing and cleanup that may be required as a result of this announcement today." BFA & ACO believe as a minimum that State Governments should: * Indemnify growers against loss of premium, cost of testing, liability for contamination costs down the supply chain * Introduce legislation to make seed companies strictly liable for any future sale or planting of contaminated seed * Seek to recover the cost of the contamination identified in Australia this year from the Seed Company(s) concerned * Reject any calls for pro GM industry groups to legalise contamination of up to 0.9%. If this was to happen then it would not be long before it would not be possible to grow organic canola in Australia BFA & ACO support the recommendations from Greenpeace with regard to clean up and applauds them for the testing that they have conducted. ENDS More comment: Scott Kinnear 0419 881 729 Holly Vyner BIOLOGICAL FARMERS OF AUSTRALIA CO OP LTD - THE VOICE OF AUSTRALIAN ORGANICS |