Australian canola growers are a thorn in the side of GM canola growers, as they have created an uneven playing field, where they have control over the market with no constraints such as contracts,buffer zones,segregation and contamination issues,dwindling markets and returns.Of course the GM companies will do anything to even the field, and then they will have total control of the global canola industry for we all know that non GM canola growers would not last very long, as the GM system is fiercely stacked in favour of the GM growers with the non GM farmers paying heavily via additional tests,haulage,etc and uncertain markets due to contamination.When Australia is anticipating a bumper harvest of non GM canola, where's the need to embrace GM?

This article was so silly, I am almost at a loss of where to start. perhaps with this quote: "Which mothers and fathers want their children drinking GM contaminated milk?" Perhaps the author would like to explain how this is simply not a scare quote? Dairy cows eat plant material and make milk. Not a single DNA molecule or protein from that plant material will end up in the milk.

Lets try this one: "Monsanto is known for prosecuting Canadian farmer, Percy Schmeiser whose farm was contaminated by Monsanto seed, and Monsanto then turned around and prosecuted Schmeiser for illegally growing patented plants." Unfortunately for Susan Hawthorne, the Canadian courts found the opposite: that Percy Schmeiser had deliberately and knowingly planted 1000 acres of his farm to canola seed that was 95% RoundupReady, without paying for the seed. http://decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca/en/2001/2001fct256/2001fct256.html

And: "irrevocable loss of GM-free status and therefore of international markets such as Japan" Susan Hawthorne is not telling you that Canada last year sold 1.95 million tonnes of GM canola to Japan. This is 1.5 times the total average canola crop in Australia http://www.abare.gov.au/interactive/cr_sept06/pdf/cr06.pdf

No don’t let facts get in the way of a good scare story.

Growing GM crops will be the latest in a long line of failed technology based solutions to help address the lack of profitability for Australian farmers.
Having an agricultural system based on the need for chemical control will only ever provide profits for the chemical companies in the long term.
Regenerative methods that utilise natural systems are the way of the future, and will negate our reliance on 'energy intensive' and land degrading methods promoted by the IPA & their ilk.

Monsanto - the same company that assured us that DDT was safe and was the only way to save US Agriculture from a possible locust plague.

Hi folks

I have followed the debate about GM crops and food on the other side of the pond for quite a few years now. I have written a series of articles that explain what is real and what is misinformation (of this there is a great deal). The Percy Schmeiser case is a good example. Please go to my website and read Goliath vs Goliath to understand why all three levels of the Canadian court system found him quilty. http://web.mala.bc.ca/wager Good luck down under.

Cheers

Rob

One more point. Farmers are some of the smartest people I know. It takes amazing skill to survive the economic realities of farming today. This is why over 30,000 farmers grow GM canola in Canada. It is simply a better product from many points of view. BTW canola is a 100% man-made crop. Cheers