Australia
June 23, 2010
Source: Australian Oilseeds Federation, NuFarm, Monsanto, Pioneer, NuSeed, Pacific Seeds, Canola Breeders, Grain Industry Association of Western Australia
Australian grain growers have embraced new proven Roundup Ready® canola varieties specifically bred for local conditions.
In just the third year of commercial availability in NSW and Victoria, and in the first year of commercial production in Western Australia, farmers have chosen to plant a total area of near 133,330 hectares of Roundup Ready canola varieties over the last three months.
This is more than treble the total area planted in 2009, with a striking uptake of the technology in Western Australia.
Planting areas per state:
| |
Area (ha) |
| WA |
72,790 |
| NSW |
24,040 |
| VIC |
36,500 |
| Note: this area is subject to change as seasonal conditions develop. |
Peter O’Keeffe, head of Monsanto Australia, says the numbers tell a significant story.
“This rapid uptake by technologically savvy Australian growers supports how useful the GM varieties can be in a production system to better manage weeds, reduce tillage, lower fuel use and provide alternatives to residual herbicides.
“These figures clearly indicate that approved GM canola varieties are being embraced by farmers, and that the NSW, Victorian and Western Australian government’s decisions have benefited agriculture by enabling choice-based access to the technology.”
Monsanto licenses the Roundup Ready trait to four specialist seed companies – Canola Breeders, Nuseed, Pioneer and Pacific Seeds, which develop and commercialise new varieties for farmers.
The seed companies say WA demand has been enormous as growers test the fit of Roundup Ready varieties in their production systems, especially in providing a new and reliable means of controlling weeds.
Trade interest and industry feedback suggests farmers in NSW and Victoria are expected to continue increasing their uptake of the technology as more growers see their neighbour’s experiences with GM varieties.
If rainfall and seasonal conditions remain ‘average’ through to harvest, the yield of GM crops will be in the order of 160,000 tonnes.
The anticipated total Australian canola crop (including conventional, TT, Clearfield™ and GM varieties) currently stands at near 1,610,000 hectares. The GM varieties thus represent 8.3% of the total Australian crop.
The grains supply-chain too stands ready to contribute to the utilisation of GM technology.
Australian Oilseed Federation Executive Director, Nick Goddard, says the seed from the harvests of the 2008 and 2009 GM varieties have been successfully accumulated, processed and marketed.
“By using the Australian grains industry’s established protocols and procedures, those crops have moved through the supply chain without issue, and we await the 2010 harvest.
“Our supply-chain processes have managed the adoption of this new variety in a way that meets both market expectations and requirements.”
The increasing adoption of GM canola mirrors that of other GM varieties by other farmers in other crop regions of the world. Since being first grown in 1996, Australian cotton growers have embraced biotechnology, such that 95% of the Australian cotton crop is now based on GM varieties. Additionally, other crops, including GM maize and soybean varieties are being increasingly grown, traded and consumed around the world.
South Australian farmers have called upon their state government to reflect international trends, look to the evidence and remove the outdated and unnecessary moratorium on GM canola.
Advice on management of Roundup Ready canola through the growing season is available through appointed Technology Service Providers who are available to assist growers integrate the new technology into their farming systems.
Farmers who are interested in estimating the benefits of using Roundup Ready canola in their grain program can access the Roundup Ready value calculator via the Monsanto website - http://www.monsanto.com.au/products/canola/roundup_ready/yellow.asp
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