Widespread planting of genetically modified crops would net Australia $8 billion during the next decade, government researchers estimate. NSW and Western Australia have the most to gain from the controversial practice of GM cropping, which would boost yields and cut costs, a glowing report by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) found. GM crops would even help the environment and increase biodiversity, the report claimed. ABARE’s executive director Phillip Glyde says the report shows that banning GM crops would cost farmers dearly.