Insight into WA's GM crop future

Whether you agree with the development of the technology or not it seems genetically modified (GM) crops are set firmly on the WA agricultural agenda.

At last week's Agrifood Awareness Australia and Pastoralists and Graziers Association (PGA) Farming the Future: GM Traits and Varieties Forum in Cunderdin about 80 grain producers and industry people listened to leaders in the field present science-based arguments for biotechnology and its place in modern agricultural development.

In his opening address PGA Western Graingrowers Committee member Gary McGill said it was a day for the scientific promotion and defence of GM technology rather than a time to base one's decisions about biotechnology on emotional rhetoric.

Western Graingrowers chairman and Meckering grower John Snooke said the success of the day was a strong reflection of the quality researchers and breeders throughout Australia.

"I have participated in a lot of industry meetings about GM technology but we wanted to provide a technical update for farmers," Mr Snooke said.

"We wanted to be able to provide them with some concrete facts about what the technology could mean for their industry."

Mr Snooke said the forum also provided the perfect opportunity for growers to be briefed about the upcoming opportunities GM cereal varieties could potentially provide for the WA environment and its unique set of challenges surrounding drought, frost and salinity.