Canberra, Australia
2March2021
The Australian Seed Federation (ASF) welcomed today’s announcement by Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall that the moratorium on cultivation of GM food crops in NSW would be allowed to expire on 1 July 2021.
Chief Executive Officer of the ASF, Mr Osman Mewett commended Minister Marshall and the Berejiklian Governmentfor this demonstration of commitment and support foragricultural innovation and the state’s farming sector.
“Allowing the moratorium to expire sends a clear signal to technology developers and seed companies that NSW is ‘open for business’ and encourages investment to bring agricultural innovations to the state” Mr Mewett said.“
Since 2003, multiple independent reports have demonstrated there are no trade or marketing benefits to maintaining state moratoria on cultivation of GM crops. Today’s decision brings NSW into line with WA, Victoria, Queensland, the NT and mainland SA as jurisdictions in which approved GM crops can be grown.”“
This year marks 25 years of commercial GM crop cultivation in Australia. Fora quarter of a century this technology has been providing significant economic and environmental benefits to Australia’s farmers and consumers” Mr Mewett concluded.
To remain internationally competitive and meet the potential for future growth is relianton the NSWGovernment’s continued adoption of policies that embrace innovation, engage investment,and bring new technologies to market in a timely manner. The ASF supports choice in relation to crop biotechnology providedthat the choice is based on sound science and respects the rights of others to also choose.
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