The Wire

While the NSW government recently gave the go-ahead to large scale trials of genetically engineered crops, another state has decided it may be more profitable to avoid them altogether. Western Australia has become the first Australian state to ban the growth of commercial GM crops to capitalise on anti-GM consumer sentiment. Agriculture Minister Kim Chance said they were conducting research to see whether WA could profit from this niche market as a GM-free state….but laboratory and small field trials would still be allowed. Christine Baker also spoke to Andy McMillan, Director of Policy for the Western Australian Farmer’s Federation.