Farming in the 21st century

Australian farmers face many difficulties. The drought has been long and hard. Seed and chemical companies and supermarkets make large profits from their labour while many farming families need off-farm income to make ends meet.

Customers seem more interested in cheap food than how the food is produced or the pressures facing the farmers, their families and the environment.

Additionally, Climate change is creating uncertainty over how farming will adapt in an altering environment.

Are GE crops the answer for farmers?

  1. GE crops do not produce higher yields than non-GE crops and are not more profitable for farmers.
  2. Only two GE traits have been commercially released in the past 10 years:
    • Herbicide resistance. This means crops can be sprayed with herbicide (like Roundup) and not die. This increases herbicide residue in the crop and also in our food.
    • Insect resistance. The crop has a bioinsecticide, Bt, inserted into it. Every cell in the plant contains this pesticide to prevent insect attack. We eat it too when the crop is harvested.
  3. GE crops have not reduced pesticide use
  4. GE crops cause weed problems
  5. Even if GE drought resistant crops can be created they are years away from commercial release. Non-GE varieties of drought resistant crops are already here.
  6. Farmers are told they will be 'left behind' if they do not adopt GE crops. Australian canola consistently sells for more than GE canola. Earlier this year it reached a peak premium of $120 per tonne more than its Canadian GE competitors. [1]
  7. GE crops are unpredictable and farmers have reported worrying side effects including: animals refusing GE feed, sterility in GE fed animals [2], unexpected crop failure, unexpected pests and diseases and contamination of ordinary crops by GE crops
  1. ABARE Canola Prices 1991-2007
  2. Seeds of Doubt, Soil Association, Bristol, 2002 p35-6

What is the alternative?

We have an increasingly sophisticated understanding of natural ecological systems and how to work with them to dramatically increase crop yields, improve soil structure, store CO2 in within the soil while increasing both soil fertility and water holding capacity. Healthier soil means healthier animals, healthier food, healthier farmers and healthier customers. It is also more profitable.

Australia has natural advantages in this area. We have the largest area of land in the world under organic cultivation. The only GE crop we grow presently is GE cotton and as it is not wind pollinated our land and our other crops are not yet polluted with GE.

Demand for organic food is continually growing.

In contrast millions of people worldwide are resisting GE foods being forced down our throats.

We would be wise to use cutting edge science and proven agricultural techniques that support natural systems to produce healthy, nutritious food.

Why would we want to jeopardise this by growing unpredictable, risky, unpopular GE food and crops?