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GM Crops

Since 2004 there has been a moratorium on commercial cultivation of all GM crops in WA. The aim of the moratorium is to protect export markets. The Genetically Modified Crops Free Areas Act 2003 was reviewed in 2009 and a report tabled in State Parliament on 26 November 2009.

Exemptions under the Act have been permitted for scientific trials and other purposes. In 2009 an exemption was made to permit commercial trials of up to 1000 hectares of Roundup Ready^® canola at no more than 20 sites in agricultural areas. Following the success of these commercial trials, in January 2010 Minister for Agriculture and Food Terry Redman announced an exemption to allow cultivation of GM canola approved by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR).  

His decision was based on a report by the Department of Agriculture and Food following the 2009 commercial trials.

Many questions are frequently asked about GM crops and the situation in Australia and Western Australia.

Factsheets are also available providing information about GM crops in general.

To assist WA canola growers in deciding whether GM canola has a place in their farming systems, the Department has prepared a set of new Farmnotes on growing canola in 2010:

• Canola variety guide in WA 2010 Farmnote 406
• Roundup Ready canola in WA Farmnote 407
• Weed control in non-GM canola Farmnote 408
• On-farm segregation of GM and non-GM canola Farmnote 409

Growers who participated in limited commercial trials of GM canola in 2009 were positive about their experiences. Some case studies are available here. To view the case studies click here.

GM crops have been grown around the world since the mid-1990s. The technology has been adopted with caution in Australia.

If you have questions about GM in WA email your GM-crop related questions to: gmcrops@agric.wa.au