The recent overturning of genetically engineered (GE) crop moratoriums in NSW and Victoria has been accompanied by well-worn 'PR-101' rhetoric. One-liners like GE food will 'feed the starving world', 'save the environment' or 'help combat climate change' come straight from the PR industry.

Victorian Premier John Brumby undermined his own party to bulldoze through the GE agenda. A truly independent inquiry – as opposed to that established by the Victorian government, and chaired by Gustav Nossal – would have done more extensive research and released the findings for public discussion.

The Australian Academy of Science recently released a statement claiming that genetically modified crops will play a critical role in alleviating malnutrition, combating climate change and removing allergens from food. This despite a mass of evidence to the contrary.

GE food crops have proven adverse effects on human health and the environment. In a recent letter to Australian Consumers, Jeffrey M. Smith, executive director Institute for Responsible Technology USA, said: "Working with more than 30 scientists worldwide, I documented 65 health risks of GE foods. There are thousands of toxic or allergic reactions in humans, thousands of sick, sterile, and dead livestock, and damage to virtually every organ and system studied in lab animals. Government safety assessments, including those of Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), do not identify many of the dangers, and analysis reveals that industry studies submitted to FSANZ are designed to avoid finding them."

The long-term environmental impacts of GE crops are still largely unknown. GE crops have been known to create tolerant 'super weeds' which require more chemicals of greater toxicity, which means more money out of farmers' pockets. The agribusiness companies that sell the GE seed also sell the chemicals.

The contamination of conventional crops is a major issue. In North America, GE corn seed has found its way to Mexico and now threatens hundreds of indigenous varieties of corn. Contamination cannot be reversed. The Canadian Governments' Agricultural Department says that genetic contamination of canola is now so widespread that it is difficult to grow conventional and organic strains.

The determination of federal and state governments to promote GE agriculture is at odds with the majority views of Australian consumers and farmers:
* A recent Cole's survey found 90% of people will avoid eating GM food if given the choice.
* Recent polls show 72.4% of Australian farmers do not want to grow to grow GE grain crops. (Farm Poll <http://nqr.farmonline.com.au>. See also the Network of Concerned Farmers website <www.non-gm-farmers.com> and Biological Farmers of Australia <www.bfa.com.au>.)
* Goodman Fielder, the biggest end user of canola in Australia, doesn't want GE in its food supply chain. Goodman Fielder owns brands including Meadow Lea, Praise, White Wings, and Helga's, and believes that "in a world of ever increasing globalisation, Australia's current status as a GM-free producer gives the company an essential international competitive advantage."
* Over 250 Australian companies have recently spoken out against GE crops including Australia's biggest lamb exporter, Tatiara meats, and Coles.

Monopolising global food resources

The famous case of Monsanto Canada Inc. v. Schmeiser (2004) illuminated the corporate strategy of monopolising global food resources. The Canadian Supreme Court held that it did not matter that Percy Schmeiser was strongly opposed to the GE contamination of his land, nor did it matter how the seed got onto Schmeiser's land, the fact that it was growing on his land meant he had infringed Monsanto's patent and had to pay up! This ruling gives Monsanto a 'license to pollute' and an incentive to spread its genetically altered seeds through cross-pollination.

Far from feeding the 'starving world', genetic engineering is a strategy of corporate monopolisation of the world's food resources. It threatens food security everywhere and undermines fundamental human rights.

President of the American National Family Farm Coalition, Bill Christison, stated: "The real truth is that GMOs cost more and yield less." Each year he plants hundreds of acres of soybeans which costs him $6.51 per acre if planting from saved seeds. If planting Monsanto's Roundup ReadyTM soybeans it would cost $42 an acre. The darkest part of the deal is that agribusiness giants like Cargill and Monsanto, who own the seed patents, forbid farmers from saving seed for future harvests. Christianson says this threatens the social fabric of family farming by taking agricultural control away from local farmers. This impact has been felt heavily in North America and some Third World countries.

Australia is in the privileged position of remaining GE-free. Being an island continent makes it feasible to ensure GE-free purity, which is what our export markets in Japan and Europe want. Japanese consumer groups travelled to Australia last year to lobby the government to keep the crop bans in place.

Australia should exercise the wisdom of patience. We should adhere to the precautionary principle, as advised by the Union of Concerned Scientists. We should wait until the lab rats are no longer getting depressed immune systems from eating GE foods, and the incidence of human allergic reactions has been controlled. Smith comments: "Lab animals fed GM crops had altered sperm cells and embryos, a five-fold increase in infant mortality, smaller brains, and a host of other problems."

Donald Page, NSW Nationals MP for Ballina, stated in his recent dissent to the Gene Technology (GM Crop Moratorium) Amendment Bill 2007: "Currently $60 per tonne more is being paid for GM-free canola over GM canola. So this segregation issue is important from a marketing and equity perspective, but I believe it is also important from a liability perspective." When former Victorian Premier Steve Bracks put the four-year moratorium in force in 2004 he said: "Yes, it's a cautious approach, but why wouldn't you be cautious with $3.5 billion of export of grains and dairy products?"

Benedict Coyne is a freelance journalist and a graduate law student at Southern Cross University. He currently lives near Lismore. Email: <benedict.coyne@yahoo.com.au>.