GM canola on the rise in Victorian, Australia

Victorian canola growers have increased plantings of genetically modified Roundup Ready varieties by 11 per cent this season.

Monsanto Australia said sales of Roundup Ready canola had declined in NSW in line with the switch away from the oilseed due to dry conditions, but West Australian plantings had increased by 38 per cent.

The company said sales of Roundup Ready seed had risen nationally by 22 per cent to a record 550 tonnes - enough to plant more than 220,000ha.

With the Australian Oilseeds Federation estimating about 2.3 million ha of canola sown this year, Roundup Ready accounts for about 10 per cent of the crop.
But it is a far cry from Canada, where GM varieties now make up about 90 per cent of the area sown.

Monsanto Australia managing director Daniel Kruithoff said grower confidence in Roundup Ready canola had been growing every season.

Mr Kruithoff said National Variety Trials had shown Roundup Ready canola had higher oil content and better yields than other herbicide-tolerant varieties.
And being within $10 a tonne of non-GM canola, benefits outweighed the price difference, he said.