GM crops, climate change hot topics
Ruling out GM technology could put Australia at a competitive
disadvantage according to a food and agriculture research paper.
Photo: Louie Douvis
Australian biotechnology companies are likely to move offshore if genetically modified (GM) technology is not introduced into the local market, a paper on the future of Australian agriculture has warned.
Australia could be placed at a competitive disadvantage if it did not adopt GM crops, which were already in use in the US, Canada, Argentina and Brazil.
China was also making large investments in the technology.
"Around 8 million farmers in 17 countries are growing GM crops," the paper said.
GM technology is one of the issues discussed in the paper prepared by the Agriculture and Food Policy Reference Group.
The group, formed by the Federal Government earlier this year, is preparing a report on the future of Australia's agriculture and food sector.
Group chairman Peter Corish, who is also the president of the National Farmers Federation, said the group wanted submissions from stakeholders - farmers, food processors, regional communities, and state and local governments. Submissions close on July 18. The report must be presented to the Minister for Agriculture, Warren Truss, by mid-December.
Mr Corish said climate change was another key influence that could greatly affect agriculture. "Whether this change is due to natural variations in the climate cycle or global warming is still uncertain," he said.
However, in dealing with short-term climate variation, Mr Corish said more and more farmers would probably demand more accurate and individually tailored weather forecasting to better manage their businesses.
Research may also be needed to develop new crops and varieties specifically suited to different climate patterns, he said.
The paper raised other issues for discussion including:
· The critical importance of winning better access to world markets and maintaining domestic biosecurity.
· Developing and adopting new technologies to maintain profits.
· The pressure to import raw materials for food manufacturing and how that pressure is likely to increase so the sector can reduce seasonality constraints and cut costs.
· The continued growth of the importance of sound ecological and economic natural resource management.