On Thursday, July 1, Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall announced the end of the state’s ban on genetically modified crops.
He said the suspension ‘has served its purpose’ and won’t be making a return, expecting the GM decision to boost profits across the NSW primary industries.
“By lifting the ban, we hope to unlock the potential of genetically modified crops for our state’s growers, delivering better yields with less inputs such as pesticides, and growing more nutritious produce,” Mr Marshall said.
“Adoption of this technology is forecast to deliver up to $4.8 billion in total gross benefits across NSW primary industries over the next ten years.”
Mr Marshall also believes that genetic modification could save farmers up to 35 per cent on overheads and boost production by almost 10 per cent.
“This will be a key area of growth on our path to a $19 billion industry by 2023,” he said.
Mr Marshall explained that the NSW government has been looking closely at this issue for more than a decade and has worked with industry professionals to ensure all trade and marketing issues are effectively managed.
“There is a robust safety system in place, with all applications to grow these crops assessed by the Commonwealth Gene Technology Regulator,” he said.
“There is strong scientific consensus in support of the potential of genetically modified crops and so I wanted to ensure the state’s farmers had access to this technology.”
President of the Narrabri branch of the NSW Farmers Association, David Scilley, has welcomed the announcement.
“It’ll be worthwhile for our farmers, to help them out, because it’s not an industry that’s getting any easier,” he said.
“A lot of people don’t realise the uncertainty and debt often associated with working in the primary industries, and many underestimate the hours our farmers are putting in, so as long as it’s got no adverse effects and everything’s done safely, I think it’ll be beneficial for the whole economy.”
Mr Scilley also said lifting the ban is a reasonable move, especially considering the increasing demand for output, and praised the researchers working behind the scenes to ensure these crops are grown safely.
“These days we’ve got to provide for a larger population with less, so genetically modified crops can help take some of the strain off farmers,” he said.
“For example, there’s scientists working on crops that’ll grow with less moisture, which can save us water, and they’re to be congratulated on their hard work.”
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