PRELIMINARY trials in Victoria show that genetically modified wheat could lift production yields by about 20 per cent and GM pastures could economically boost the dairy, beef and wool industries. Molecular Plant Breeding CRC chief executive Glenn Tong said trials of its drought-tolerant wheat in 2007 and last year were ”very promising” — with yields of the GM wheat up to 20 per cent higher than non-GM wheat under drought stress.

SOUTH Australian president of The Nationals Wilbur Klein’s call this week to lift the moratorium on the growing of genetically-modified canola in South Australia has put him at odds with his party’s parliamentary leader Karlene Maywald. [...] But as The Nationals sole member of Parliament in SA, Ms Maywald said in a statement that she was not convinced. ”There is no compelling case put forward to suggest there is any advantage for SA growers to have access to these products,” she said.

MOST growers who attended a public forum in Mukinbudin on Genetically Modified crops were against allowing plantings in Western Australia. [...] Forums were also held in Esperance, Albany, Williams and Perth. Ms Copeland said the forum was well supported but the majority of growers were against the planting of GM crops.

The State Government is keeping regional communities informed about the progress of Western Australia’s first commercial evaluation trials of GM canola this season.

Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman said more than 30 local government authorities within the proposed trial area were invited to information sessions in Narrogin and Northam this month. The proposed trial area is bordered by Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook.

GENETICALLY modified crops have a key role in meeting a massive surge in world demand for food over the next 15 years, a leading plant scientist says. CSIRO’s deputy chief of plant industries, Dr T. J. Higgins, says population growth and rising wealth could mean an extra 10 billion tonnes of food consumed each year by 2025. Responding to that extra demand was a ”mammoth task” which would require ”many tools” including the use of GM crops, Dr Higgins said.

LITIGATION and crop contamination are inherent dangers of growing genetically-modified crops, according to Canadian farmer Ross Murray and United States seed cleaner Moe Parr. Both were speakers at forums in South Australia this week organised by the Network of Concerned Farmers, Biological Farmers of Australia, Gene Ethics and Greenpeace. Mr Parr said his legal run-in with Monsanto had effectively turned him into an ”unpaid compliance officer”.

The Network of Concerned Farmers (NCF) have called a halt on GM canola trials in West Australia due to unacceptable contract conditions that they claim will force non-GM farmers to pay for contamination. The controversial details of an interim briefing note between West Australian bulk handling company CBH, and Monsanto has been exposed today to the W.A. ABC Country Hour.

Grain company Monsanto has surveyed growers and released preliminary yield results from the first season of genetically modified canola. It says that the seed it offers has a 20 per cent yield over triazine tolerant canola, but yields are almost exactly the same as the clearfield variety. Tony May, from Monsanto, says GM canola gave farmers fewer weed problems.

The sequencing of a gene that gives wheat a long-lasting ability to resist destructive fungal diseases could pave the way for hardier wheat strains, say researchers. Australian molecular geneticist Dr Wolfgang Spielmeyer, of CSIRO Plant Industry, and colleagues, report their findings in today in the journal Science. ”We’ve found one of the most important disease resistance genes in wheat,” he says. Wheat rust and other fungal pathogens cost wheat growers worldwide in excess of AU$7.8 billion (US$5.0 billion).

ha100,000 of genetically modified canola could be sown in Victoria and NSW this year, a huge increase on the 9500ha planted last year. Gene technology company Monsanto and GM seed retailer NuSeed say favourable weather conditions would ensure a huge expansion of the crop. Monsanto predicts about 150,000 tonnes could be harvested.