Greet Agriculture Minister Joe Helper, Monsanto and conference delegates to hand back GM canola collected by Cropwatch from roadsides in Victoria and NSW.
Tuesday November 10, at 9am
Main entrance, Melbourne Convention Centre
Convention Centre Place, South Melb (Melway map 1C: B3)
(NB: the Centre has moved so map attached)
GENETICALLY modified canola has jumped containment lines and "contaminated" a commercial beehive in western Victoria, prompting claims that people are not being told enough about what they eat.
Scientific testing on behalf of Greenpeace Australia found Monsanto's "Roundup Ready" canola strain, which is resistant to some herbicides, had contaminated hives near Bannockburn owned by Edmonds Honey.
Victoria lifted a moratorium on growing GM canola in November 2007 after being advised it could be kept separate from non-GM crops.
Greenpeace spokeswoman Louise Sales said the contamination meant people were being denied choice: anyone buying honey from the affected hive could be eating GM food without knowing it.
Greens candidate, Dr Malcolm McKelvie has praised Russell Broadbent for his vigorous campaign to stop genetically modified food crops getting into our food supply .
Media Release December 13, 2007 Premier ignores economic costs of GM canola The Country Greens Network has called on Premier John Brumby to conduct a full economic audit of the costs of GM canola. Country Greens convener Louis Delacretaz condemned Mr Brumby for refusing to extend Victoria’s moratorium on genetically engineered crops. “Mr Brumby acted in a cavalier fashion and in the face of opposition from the community, farmers and even substantial internal dissent in the ALP,” said Mr Delacretaz. “The full costs of this decision have not been considered.
