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Mar. 25 2000
Reuters
Genetically modified canola found in Australia
dump
SYDNEY -- Genetically engineered canola plants not yet approved for
public
release in Australia have, according to a report in the Melbounre-based
Age
newspaper on Sat., been found in a garbage dump near the South Australian
city of Mount Gambier, about 375 km (230 miles) west of Melbourne.
The story says that the government has warned that herbicide-resistant
"super weeds" could emerge if such plants cross-pollinated with
common
weeds.
Scott Kinnear, chairman of the Organic Federation of Australia, an organic
farming lobby, was cited as saying the find was an "outrage"
and called for
a halt to experimental genetically engineered canola crops in the country,
Australian Associated Press.
The story adds that the controversy has erupted as Australia debates
whether to allow the introduction of GM canola for commercial growing.
The
pro-GM lobby hopes that could begin as early as next year.
If GM canola crops are introduced to Australia, canola would become
Australia's second largest commercial GM crop after cotton.
The story adds that the issue of whether Australia follows Canada into
commercial production of GM canola is becoming a major world test case
in
whether GM crops will overtake conventionally produced crops or whether
consumer resistance halts the progress of GM crops.
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