Price hit on GM growers
Kim Woods
Weekly Times, March 21 2012 
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/03/21/457751_grain-and-hay.html

[image caption: Conventional preference – Growers are getting about $25-$50 a tonne less for their genetically modified canola]

GROWERS of genetically modified canola crops are copping a caning in the market place.

With prices largely dictated by Canada, GM canola is trading at $25-$50 a tonne less than non-GM varieties.

Grain Assist principal Alastair Beaumont said GM canola was the base grade for negotiation.

Mr Beaumont said non-GM growers in Tasmania, Western Australia and Kangaroo Island were selling grain into a reduced, competitive market.

He said Australian GM growers were now competing with Canada and the US at lower price levels.

Speaking at a canola forum in Dookie last week, Mr Beaumont said consumer and grain market signals indicated a preference for non-GM canola.

"GM canola has not the value of non-GM canola," he said.

"From a marketing side, non-GM and organics is still bringing the highest price.

"When GM canola first came out, it was worth the same price (as non-GM).

"In the market today it is at a $25-$50/tonne discount at where non-GM canola is."

Mr Beaumont said recent polls showed 93 per cent of Americans supported labelling of genetically modified products.

"This will drive non-GM and organic foods if passed," he said. "If consumers have a choice they will buy non-GMO foods but price dictates consumers."

US sales of organic food and beverages have grown from $1 billion in 1990 to $26.7 billion in 2010.

Riverine Plains Incorporated chairman Evan Ryan said he began trialling GM canola on his 1000ha Yarrawonga farm in 2006, partly in a philosophical decision to support the technology.

Mr Ryan said growers benefited from improved yields, drought and frost tolerance through GM technology. [?????]

Advantages included controlling Group A and Group B herbicide resistance in crop rotations.

"In the drought, we went away from canola to wheat on wheat as a risk mitigation strategy," Mr Ryan said.

"We had disease issues in the wheat rotation as it was too intensive – there were the same weeds year after year."

Mr Ryan recommended growing GM canola in a "safe environment" – a well drained paddock without wild radish issues.

He said growers should be mindful before planting there needed to be a strong demand for GM canola.

"At the moment we are getting discounted on price – it needs to pay for itself," Mr Ryan said.

"Unfortunately the market isn't directing farmers to the technology."