A LOCAL organic farmer wants Gawler Council to fight to remain genetically modified (GM) crop-free, saying it would provide a market advantage for local growers.

Hillier horticulturist Graham Brookman, who owns and operates the Food Forest on Clifford Road, spoke to Gawler councillors last week before they voted to start a public consultation process into whether locals want GM crops grown in the council area.

Legislation passed last month lifted a 16-year ban on cultivating GM crops in South Australia, but amendments pushed by Labor allow local councils to apply to primary industries minister Tim Whetstone for an exemption.

As reported in The Bunyip last week, Gawler and its surrounding councils are set to consult with their communities on the issue and consider a joint push to keep the area GM-free.

Mr Brookman studied a diploma of agriculture and was a lecturer in the field at Roseworthy College and was also on the Agricultural Technologists of Australasia foundation committee.

Speaking to The Bunyip, he said a block of councils joining to stay GM-free would allow for greater marketing opportunities in the future.

“If you look at foods in supermarkets, there aren’t any foods that are labelled as genetically engineered,” he said.

“If they were, they’d have to be labelled. What does that mean? Nobody wants to eat genetically engineered food in Australia.

“The crops that have been genetically modified are mainly cotton and canola, other than that they haven’t really bothered with the Australian market.”

The state’s grain producers have backed the push to lift the long-standing moratorium, including Grain Producers SA and Adelaide Plains canola farmer John Lush.

GM canola is set to be the main crop planted in SA during next year’s planting season, although Mr Brookman worried allowing such crops to be grown would “open the floodgates” to different types of genetically engineered seeds to be cultivated.

“I’m sure there are multinational seed companies which are quite determined to penetrate the Australian market,” he said.

“We can’t say this is all about canola, not at all.”

He added the public remained unconvinced by GM crop technology and said the least Gawler Council could do is seek the community’s views on the issue.

“The South Australian community is quite shocked that the state has embraced genetically engineered food crops after a decade or more of GM freedom,” Mr Brookman said.

“Whilst there was a consultation (by the State Government), it was paper thin.

“Every day shoppers need to be aware of what’s going on, because if we pass up this chance, this one chance of becoming GM-free, it’s a free for all.”

‘Rolled over’: Mayor slams Labor on GM decision

GAWLER Mayor Karen Redman has accused the state opposition of giving up on the genetically modified (GM) crops debate, saying Labor “rolled over” to the State Government.

At Gawler Council’s Infrastructure and Environmental Services Committee meeting last Tuesday night, elected members voted to hold public consultation on whether GM crops should be cultivated inside the council’s jurisdiction.

New legislation, passed in May, lifted a 16-year moratorium on GM crop growing across the state, following close to a year of political battle on the issue.

Amendments to the bill, reached as an agreement between Labor and the State Government to see its passing, stipulated local councils had the ability to apply to keep the ban in place in their jurisdiction.

Elected members debated the issue last week, with Mayor Redman saying Labor “rolled over” to the State Government in allowing the bill to pass.

“The Labor party rolled over, effectively, in my humble view, in regard to this,” she said.

“That is their right, but I think it’s disappointing.

“Also, it puts the pressure on councils. Thankfully we have some guidelines, but it’s up to councils.

“Interestingly, we have some interest from Playford, which is a large primary production area. I haven’t spoken to them yet, but I think we should.

“My view is we should at least proceed with public consultation.”

As reported in The Bunyip last week, Gawler, Barossa and Playford councils are considering joining forces to apply for a GM free area.

Local councils must write to primary industries minister Tim Whetstone to apply for an exemption to the new law, although they have been told any application would only be considered on market value, and not the population’s personal beliefs on GM crops.

An independent report by economist Professor Kym Anderson in March last year found the long-standing moratorium had cost SA grain farmers $33 million since 2004.

During last week’s meeting, councillor Ian Tooley said while he avoids GM products, he failed to see Mr Whetstone granting any exemptions.

“I do think the horse has bolted. I think that now the Labor party and the Liberals have supported this, it’s going to be very difficult to make any changes,” he said.

“I don’t want council spending a lot of money and a lot of time chasing something which is inevitably going to fail.

“It’s because of that report which was used as the basis for the decision by the government. We’ve all been around long enough to have seen so many reports and investigations come before the government… sadly, I think the battle is lost.”

A further report on the issue and plans for a public consultation process will be presented to the committee’s August meeting.