CSIRO keeps Australian GM food trials in public sector

"CSIRO keeps Australian GM food trials in public sector"
News Release
Asia Pulse via NewsEdge Corporation
soyatech.com
March 28, 2001

CANBERRA - Australia's chief scientific research organisation, the CSIRO, is leading multinational companies in the trialling of GM crops.
Multinational organisations such as Monsanto and Aventis are portrayed as the main drivers of GM trials in Australia.
But a breakdown of trials approved by or before the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee (GMAC) shows the CSIRO and public institutions have undertaken 60 per cent of the nation's trials.
The CSIRO is conducting 40 per cent of all trials, while other public institutions involved include Murdoch University, University of Queensland and the University of Adelaide.
One of the scientists leading CSIRO's GM trials, Thomas Higgins, said it was important for public institutions to carry out research into genetic modification.
Dr Higgins is working on a range of GM crops including field peas, lupins and white clover.
He said while public concern over GM crops was understandable, it was important for public institutions to play a role in their development.
"Absolutely, it is very important for us to keeping involved, to have trials, and to provide some competition to the multinationals," Dr Higgins told AAP.
"This new technology could offer us all sorts of benefits in terms of sustainable development."
Some of the CSIRO's GM crops have included:

Field peas with sunflower seed genes to make them more nutritious for livestock;

Cotton that has been altered to make it resistant to types of caterpillars;

And barley that has been given extra enzymes to help it breakdown its own starch.
Dr Higgins said much of his research was co-funded by industry organisations.
The dairy industry is providing money for a GM white clover which is resistant to insects, making it more valuable to farmers trying to keep up feed to their animals.
Dr Higgins said a GM white clover could be ready for commercial release by 2004, while other crops such as wheat, barley, poppies and potatoes were also planned for investigation.
He said while there was commercial pressure to develop more GM crops, it had to be balanced with the concerns of the public.
This week, GMAC called for public comment on four new proposed GM trials, three of which have been proposed by Australian National University (ANU) researchers.
The ANU wants to release a small quantity of genetically altered bacteria which it hopes will fight off infection in wheat crops.
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Last Updated on 3/29/01
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