Opposition mounts to GM crop: survey AAP Thursday, 10 April 2003 There is a great deal of concern among farmers about the impact of genetically modified canola on traditional crops. A survey has found mounting opposition to the release of genetically modified canola as calls grow for a full poll of farmers' attitudes towards the new technology. The survey conducted in Victoria of 200 growers found a large level of concern about the impending release of GM canola and its impact on traditional crops. But Biotechnology Australia, a government organisation, said there were serious problems in the surveys being conducted of farmer attitudes towards GM crops. Gene technology regulator Sue Meek found last week that canola genetically altered to make it resistant to a particular herbicide did not pose a health or environment risk. It appears that next month she will formally approve the GM canola to be released commercially, becoming the first genetically altered food crop grown in Australia. But Wimmera canola grower Geoff Carracher, a member of the Network of Concerned Farmers, said the survey of Victorian growers showed many were opposed to GM crops. Of the farmers surveyed, 71 per cent had concerns about the commercial release of GM canola, 67 per cent were worried about their ability to market the grain, while 80 per cent said they had fears about GM and non-GM canola coexisting. Mr Carracher said the results provided overwhelming justification for Victoria to ban the grain's release. "If the Victorian Government wants evidence to support a moratorium on the release of GM canola, here it is," he said. The survey found 52 per cent of respondents believed they had enough information to make a decision about growing GM canola. Eighty per cent said they had concerns about on-farm contamination issues, while 72 per cent were concerned about liability. But Biotechnology Australia's Craig Cormick said too many surveys were about the attitudes of farmers to GM crops, and not of their willingness to use the new technology. He said a random national poll was needed to really discover the attitude of farmers towards GM crops. "Many people have opinions about GM crops and the decisions Australian farmers will make about growing them or not, but very few of these decisions are based on actually knowing what the farmers' attitudes to GM crops are. "And to complicate this, anti-GM groups are seeking to portray farmers as being very against GM crops and pro-GM groups are seeking to portray them as being supportive of them." The nation's agriculture ministers discuss the GM canola issue today, with a split between the states over a moratorium on the crop. Queensland and Victoria appear set to hold out against GM crop bans planned by the other states, while federal Agriculture Minister Warren Truss has openly backed genetically altered crops.