The National Biotechnology Conference in Adelaide this week are perplexed over the variation in response to genetically modified crops and market opportunities.

Dr Val Giddings, Vice President for Food and Agriculture, Biotechnology Industry Organisation, USA is amazed at the picture unfolding and is concerned at how this will impact international companies wanting to work with, partner, or trade with companies in Australia.

While the Federal Government has recently approved the commercial release of GM canola, a number of the State governments have imposed moratoria on the release of GM crops.

"I am puzzled at this picture, where there is a clear finding of safety and statement of approval by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) at a Federal level, which is then being counter-acted by moratoria at a state level," said Dr Giddings.

"The US is about to enter into a free trade agreement with Australia - but if companies are going to be blocked from trading, what is this really saying?"

"One complication of the situation in Australia is that these State moratoria are clearly in violation of World Trade Organisation (WTO) obligations which obviously has a national implication," said Dr Giddings.

On another level, ABARE has shown biotech crops to fare very well in global markets, and farmers everywhere who have grown them have found their competitiveness enhanced. It is therefore a mystery why states should want to place the millstones of moratoria around the necks of Australian farmers who must swim in the waters of global competition. 

AusBiotech, the Australian Biotechnology Organisation, is concerned at the stance by State governments, which is starting to impede on the progress of agricultural companies and the Australian Agribiotech industry in general.

"Companies not wanting to go against their State government¹s decision are finding it a challenge to compete globally," said Dr Tony Coulepis, Executive Director, AusBiotech.

"The market should determine what is needed, rather than State political agendas. This is not a situation where the Australian industry can patiently sit on the sidelines and still expect to be a leader in biotechnology, or remain competitive in the agricultural sector."

In contrast, the Queensland State Government has not introduced a moratorium and is also the only state with a tough biotechnology Code of Ethical Practice. Attending the conference, Paul Lucas, Minister for Innovation and Information Economy, says that the Queensland Government stance is the decision on whether to grow GM or non-GM crops should be taken by growers not the government.

"The Queensland Government does not blindly support the release of all GM crops, but we do support a thorough case-by-case risk assessment by the Office of Gene Regulator, that¹s why we oppose blanket moratoriums or GM free zones," Mr Lucas said.

"Many of our pharmaceutical drugs, for example insulin, are now produced by GM, similarly GM cotton has been grown in Queensland since 1996 and as a result chemical usage in cotton growing has been reduced by over 50%." 

The conference continues until Tuesday evening at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Tuesday at 10.30am there will be a press conference held on the latest findings by Biotechnology Australia on Farmer attitudes to GM crops, which will also be attended by Val Giddings, BIO. Media interviews and information.