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WA lifts ban on GM cotton crops

Posted November 14, 2008 15:08:00
Updated November 14, 2008 16:57:00

The bud of an experimental GM cotton plant in the Kimberley. (ABC)

• Map: Kununurra 6743

The Western Australian Government has lifted a moratorium on genetically-modified crops to allow genetically modified (GM) cotton to be grown in the Kimberley.

The Minister for Agriculture, Terry Redman, says the Government will allow the commercial production of GM cotton in the Ord River Irrigation Area.

The decision comes after 10 years of extensive GM cotton trials in the Ord Valley and extensive consultation with the community, industry and the traditional owners of the Ord Valley, the Mirrawong Gajjerong people.

Mr Redman says the GM cotton industry could be worth more than $50 million a year to the East Kimberley and could secure the future of the Ord as a major agricultural region.

But Mr Redman would not give a firm commitment to lifting the ban on other GM crops.

"This is just an announcement today of commercial growing of GM cotton specifically in the Ord River Irrigation area, but I have highlighted publicly that we are determining a pathway towards commercial trials of GM canola," he said.

"I haven't made any decision in that regard yet."

Tags: liberal-party, nationals, cotton, agricultural-policy, genetically-modified-organisms, gm-technology, programs-and-initiatives, wa, broome-6725, kununurra-6743, perth-6000