New Genes for New Environments opens in Merredin

by Marion Lopez

ScineceNetwork WA, October 11 2011

WA’s grains industry is set to benefit from two newly opened research facilities at Merredin, designed to help develop new crop technologies resilient to climate change.

While the ‘New Genes for New Environments’ facility will enable the grains industry to evaluate growth and yield characteristics of genetically modified traits, the Managed Environment Facility (MEF)’s focus will be in non-GM crop research.

As part of the $9 million State Government’s commitment to the New Genes for New Environments project, Minister for Agriculture and Food Terry Redman says the facilities will continue to place WA at the forefront of agricultural and environmental research.

For our farmers to be at their most productive it’s important for them to be growing crops that are suited to our environment." —Minister Redman. Image: iStock

“It is important for the Australian grains industry to have access to the latest innovation, including GM technology, to remain internationally competitive,” says Minister Redman.

“Both [facilities] will target improvements in crop production needed to sustain the grains industry under climatic stresses such as drought, heat and frost.

GM crops may grow on farmers

by Marissa Calligeros
Sydney Morning Herald September 7, 2011

Genetically modified organisms may have a big role in Queensland’s future agricultural industry, the outgoing president of the Queensland Farmer’s Federation says.

Genetically modified organisms may have a big role in Queensland's future agricultural industry, the outgoing president of the Queensland Farmer's Federation says. Photo Paul Jones

The outgoing president of the Queensland Farmers’ Federation says genetically modified organisms may have a big part to play in the state’s agricultural industry.

Speaking this week for the last time in his role as president of the federation after 10 years at the helm, Gary Sansom pointed to GMOs to secure the future of farming in Queensland.

Reflecting on his time as federation president, which was marked by drought and then last summer’s floods, Mr Sansom said GM crops may provide a “piece of the jigsaw” needed to help farmers better adapt to climate change.
Advertisement: Story continues below

“It’s going to be a very important tool for us in the future, if people are prepared to accept it and the science says we should be able to accept it,” he said.

Read more