Background
In May 2020, the South Australian Parliament passed legislation which allows genetically-modified food crops to be grown across South Australia, with the exception of Kangaroo Island. Prior to the amendment there was a ban on the cultivation of Genetically Modified (GM) food crops in South Australia.
This legislation also gives Councils in SA a once off opportunity to apply to the Minister for Primary Industries for all or part of their Council area to be designated as an area in which no GM food crops may be grown.
Council is currently considering whether to submit an application. To assist Council in making an informed decision, community input is sought, particularly from people engaged in primary production activities and food processing or manufacturing activities in the Council area.
As the State Government can only regulate GM food crops where there are risks to markets and trade, if Council submits an application it must be based on the marketing and trade affects of GM food crops. Other matters associated with GM food crops is regulated by Commonwealth legislation.
Find out more
More information on GM food crops in South Australia is available from the following links:
Genetically Modified Crops Management Act 2004
PIRSA information on GM Crops
Independent GM Review
Get Involved
You are invited tell us how the trade and marketing impact of GM crops may be impacted by a change in GM status by:
To complete the survey online or to make an online submission you may need to register to get involved. To register click on the brown register button. To find out more about registering click here.
What happens to your feedback?
All input received will be reported to the Council meeting on 25 August 2020.
The Elected Members will use this information to decide to:
- apply to the Minister for Primary Industries to remain an area in which no genetically modified food crops can be cultivated or
- do nothing, in which case, genetically-modified food crops can be grown in the Council area next year
If Council submits an application the Minister makes the final decision and must also undertake six weeks public consultation and must be satisfied that the object of designating an area as a non-GM crop area is for marketing purposes.
Consultation closes at 9.00am on Monday 10 August 2020.
Background
In May 2020, the South Australian Parliament passed legislation which allows genetically-modified food crops to be grown across South Australia, with the exception of Kangaroo Island. Prior to the amendment there was a ban on the cultivation of Genetically Modified (GM) food crops in South Australia.
This legislation also gives Councils in SA a once off opportunity to apply to the Minister for Primary Industries for all or part of their Council area to be designated as an area in which no GM food crops may be grown.
Council is currently considering whether to submit an application. To assist Council in making an informed decision, community input is sought, particularly from people engaged in primary production activities and food processing or manufacturing activities in the Council area.
As the State Government can only regulate GM food crops where there are risks to markets and trade, if Council submits an application it must be based on the marketing and trade affects of GM food crops. Other matters associated with GM food crops is regulated by Commonwealth legislation.
Find out more
More information on GM food crops in South Australia is available from the following links:
Genetically Modified Crops Management Act 2004
PIRSA information on GM Crops
Independent GM Review
Get Involved
You are invited tell us how the trade and marketing impact of GM crops may be impacted by a change in GM status by:
To complete the survey online or to make an online submission you may need to register to get involved. To register click on the brown register button. To find out more about registering click here.
What happens to your feedback?
All input received will be reported to the Council meeting on 25 August 2020.
The Elected Members will use this information to decide to:
- apply to the Minister for Primary Industries to remain an area in which no genetically modified food crops can be cultivated or
- do nothing, in which case, genetically-modified food crops can be grown in the Council area next year
If Council submits an application the Minister makes the final decision and must also undertake six weeks public consultation and must be satisfied that the object of designating an area as a non-GM crop area is for marketing purposes.
Consultation closes at 9.00am on Monday 10 August 2020.
I am opposed to our State and in particular our district allowing genetically modified crops to be grown.
I will concede that there is some short term economical advantages for the growing of a few crops, in particular canola, which have been vigorously promoted by the large chemical companies. These GM crops rely 100% upon the use of their chemicals for weed and pest control in these crops.
I have been involved in farming for over 60 years in this area and have noticed a very steady resistance of plants to many of our herbicides and pesticides, particularly in the production of pasture seeds where I have specialised for the past 40 years.
My principal objection to allowing GM crops is the long term marketing of our produce of current and future crops.
Margie and I have travelled frequently overseas particularly the US and Europe, and regularly have been commended, particularly in Europe of our South Australian stance against the growing of GM crops. Internationally we are seen very much as a “clean and green” State, that in this ever changing world, may lead to some unique opportunities that our other GM states have forfeited. This is particularly pertinent to the South East of SA with our availability of underground water that will allow a vast diversity of horticulture and seed crops for our future generations.
We must not sacrifice these opportunities for our children and other generations of farmers still to come!
Allowing the growing of GM crops is an irreversible decision, and one that should be be agonised over.
The old saying that “the customer is always right” still applies today and if the perception of the customer is that they want to buy from a “clean and green” area, we should remain in our unique position to fill this need.
Councillors of Naracoorte Lucindale Council, vote NO to allow this very short term gain but with long term pain of allowing GM crops to be grown in our area.
Peter Stuart, Strathyre. August 8th, 2020
When the GM debate first stated in SA I chaired the South Australian Farmers Federations Gene Task force with a view to providing an Industry wide position we all could co-exist, with our own business being responsible for the claims we make. the council does not have the resources to police a ban, nor should it. Currently no price advantage can be claimed in SA because of our status, and any future advantage will be found in co-existence and separate marketing streams. Let the grower decide.
As small scale award winning Organic Farmers the idea of GM crops arriving in the pristine SE is abohorant. GM crops are all about facilitating the use of pesticides on growing food crops.
Many countries are banning imports of GM crops as they see them as potentially harmful. At the moment NON GM produced crops enjoy a price premium. This premium will grow over time.
Most convention farmers we speak to say SA being GM free was a huge market advantage to them!!!!!
They are risky and unneeded.