Which gm crops are grown in australia

Other crops are undergoing field trials. Worldwide, there are approximately 80 different types of GM crops grown including soybean, maize, papaya, potato, squash and tomato. Evidence of the safety of GM varieties, and confirmation that they have no detrimental impacts on the environment, humans or animals, must be provided to the regulatory bodies before they are approved.

The federal Gene Technology Act regulates all dealings with live and viable genetically modified organisms GMOs in Australia, including research, manufacture, import, production, propagation, transport and disposal of GMOs. New products and GM varieties are assessed on a case-by-case basis. South Australia has had a moratorium on the production of GM crops and transportation of GM crop products since , under the South Australian Genetically Modified Crops Management Act and subsequent regulations.

Based on this advice and extensive public consultation, the South Australian parliament passed new legislation in that enables GM food crops to be grown in South Australia, with the exception of Kangaroo Island. In Australia, GM is mainly a crop management option that provides growers with an opportunity to access new varieties with improved agronomic features.

For example, GM varieties that are resistant to some pests and diseases can reduce the need to use pesticides, leading to reduced on-farm costs and environmental benefits. This has been a particularly effective strategy for the Australian cotton and canola industries. In states such as Victoria, secondary benefits of GM Canola sowing have been seen in following seasons for barley and wheat. Growers typically use annual crop rotations to maintain the quality of their soil, avoid pest and weed build up and maximise yield over time.

The use of GM herbicide-tolerant canola to control weeds has been reported to reduce the overall amount of spraying at some sites for up to 5 years, supporting yields and reducing inputs for higher value crops such as wheat and barley. In the future, GM crops could potentially provide farmers with varieties that might be better suited to our local conditions — eg, crops that grow better in high temperatures or with less water.

In many cases, the genes underlying environmental stress tolerance have been identified and GM crops are in development and ready to test in field conditions. Independent reviews of the Victorian and NSW moratoria in found that earlier concerns about market access, economic impact and segregation had largely been overcome since bans on commercial cultivation of GM canola were first put in place.

Access to these tools enables growers in NSW and Victoria to compete on a level footing with other producers in global markets. This gives certainty to WA farmers and investors and provides access to new opportunities and tools for producers to remain competitive. A moratorium remains in place for Kangaroo Island due to a specific trade opportunity for wheat growers in that location.

Removing the GM moratorium for mainland SA provides opportunities for more than farmers and agronomists. Researchers and breeders will be incentivised to trial these GM crops under local conditions.

Tasmania: Tasmania is the only Australian state that remains with a GM crop moratorium. Several independent and government commissioned reports show that Tasmania has not gained a marketing advantage from a GM-free status, while their farmers have missed out on environmental, financial and productivity benefits gained by Australian farmers with access to crop biotechnology over the past 25 years. Queensland: Queensland has never had a moratorium on GM crops.

This is likely to change in the future when more GM crops come to market. In recent years, Australian regulators allowed cultivation of canola modified to contain long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, prized for their health benefits. Safflower has been genetically modified to contain higher amounts of oleic acid. These renewable oils can be used in place of petroleum , a finite resource, in products such as fuels, plastics and cosmetics. Read more: The quest for delicious decaf coffee could change the appetite for GMOs.

Experts concede there are limits to what can be known about the health effects of any food over the long term. However, scientists broadly agree the evidence so far suggests GM crops are safe to eat. This view is backed by the World Health Organization. Foods derived from GM plants are consumed by millions of people in many countries. However many countries still ban the the cultivation of GM foods.

And some people remain worried about the effects on human health. Concerns include that antibiotic resistance may be transferred from plants to humans, or that GM foods will trigger allergic reactions. Read more: GM crops: to ban or not to ban?

That's not the question. Experts have concluded the risk of antibiotic resistance is not substantial. There is some evidence of a small number of GM crops being allergenic. But since GM crops undergo extensive allergen testing, they should not be riskier than conventional crops once cleared for market release.

Research has found weed resistance to the herbicide glyphosate is a problem, and there is some evidence of glyphosate-resistant canola persisting outside farms in Australia.