American farmers take up GM canola

The Agriculture Minister Terry Redman says the Governments decision to lift the ban on genetically modified canola has been vindicated.

Bio-tech company Monsanto says more than 70,000 hectares of Roundup Ready canola had so far been planted in WA, more than double original estimates.

The State Government lifted the ban on GM canola earlier this year.

Mr Redman says the higher than expected take up demonstrates many farmers are embracing the technology.

"This certainly reinforces what we always knew in that there was a dominant view in the farming community that they wanted access to this technology.

"This Government made the decision after a 12-month trial to allow access to GM canola and clearly the uptake strongly validates that outcome."
Mr Redman says it provides farmers with options.

"The best thing that Government can do is respond in terms of setting the policies that allow farmers to grow and to innovate and this is one such technology that theyve been chasing access to, weve now given it to them.

"It means they now have another tool in the toolbox to deal with the challenges in making the most of the season that presents."