South Australia stays GE-free

The South Australian government realises the value of keeping the state clean, green and GE-free. Key export markets would be at risk if it adopted GE canola. Unfortunately, GE canola crops can spread across state borders so South Australia still risks contamination if New South Wales and Victoria lift the ban.

Ask NSW and Victoria to keep the ban

Last year, Greenpeace delivered thousands of postcards from concerned Australians to the South Australian agriculture minister, asking for the GE ban to stay.

Canada’s warning

The South Australian decision is timely. Canadian farmers with experience growing GE canola are travelling to Australia to warn farmers of the impacts. Canadian attempts to segregate non-GE and GE canola crops failed after just a few years, resulting in the collapse of conventional and organic canola markets. Canada lost its European canola seed market entirely to Australia.

Hear the Canadian farmers on their Australian tour

Food companies against GE

When New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria started thinking about lifting GE food crop bans, more than 250 Australian companies spoke out against GE foods. These include the largest end-user of canola, Goodman Fielder, the largest lamb exporters, Tatiara Meats, and the supermarket chains Coles, Woolworths and Foodland.

Even our key export markets are speaking out against GE crops. Japanese meat exporters have affirmed they don't want meat from animals fed GE feed. Incredibly, consumer groups representing 2.9 million Japanese consumers visited Australia last year, urging state governments to extend their GE food crop bans.

Greenpeace calls on:

• New South Wales and Victorian governments to join South Australia, reverse their decisions and  extend their GE food crop bans for at least five years
• all states to adopt liability legislation to protect farmers and consumers from unwanted GE contamination.