GE political hot potato

The spread of genetically engineered (GE) crops is becoming a hot 
political potato. The Tasmanian Greens have begun receiving leaked 
information about GE crop trial sites. This information reveals that 
farmers and others involved with the trials in Tasmania had not been 
properly informed that a new "hybrid canola" they were growing was 
genetically engineered. It is clear that these were not mere scientific 
trials but were instead totally commercial operations covering large 
areas.

"These were fully fledged commercial operations for bulk seed to Canada", 
said the Greens' Peg Putt. "The only sense in which they were a trial is 
that they appear to have been experimenting with how much of Tasmania they 
could get away with contaminating."

In addition, it was revealed last week that GE canola trials in Tasmania 
carried out by Monsanto, Aventis and their local agents ServAg, had 
breached safety provisions for GE crop trials. The Tasmanian Government had 
been warned about the possibilities of the pollen reaching other plants and 
creating super-weeds as the result.

According to the Tasmanian Greens approvals have been sought for 24 crop 
trials at 117 locations across Tasmania. It is unknown how many of those 
trials were approved and actually went ahead.

The Greens have called for a judicial inquiry into the Tasmanian GE crop 
trials; the role of ServAg as local agent for Monsanto, and Aventis and 
their cosy relationship with the state Department of Primary Industries, 
Water and Environment.

"It is vital to any GE-free future that all past and present crop trials 
sites are identified and that potential contamination arising from those 
sites into the surrounding environment is thoroughly investigated", said Ms 
Putt.