Western Australia has become the third Australian state to allow farmers to grow genetically modified (GM) canola. Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman on Monday approved an exemption order under the Genetically Modified Crops Free Areas Act 2003 to permit cultivation of the GM crop. Premier Colin Barnett said the step fulfilled a key election promise to approve commercial-size trials of GM canola and brought WA into line with the other major grain-growing states, NSW and Victoria.