GMOs & SA: Food Sovereignty & Consumer Sentiment

Summary

The South Australian (SA) Moratorium against genetically modified organisms (GMOs): (i) preserves food sovereignty for SA, (ii) it accords with global consumer sentiment, (iii) it validates SA’s clean and green and natural image, (iv) it supports premium price agriculture, and (v) it avoids another Holden car crash experience in SA. General Motors recently wielded the axe on the Holden brand in Australia. Sovereignty for Holden had long ago been ceded to Detroit, USA, and, the company in Australia had persisted in ignoring consumer sentiment by promoting sedans (Commodores) long after consumer demand had moved on to SUVs (sports utility vehicles). With a GMO Moratorium, SA maintains sovereignty of its foodscape. Without a GMO Moratorium, the shots are ceded to Dusseldorf (Bayer & Monsanto), Basel and Beijing (Syngenta & ChemChina). Global consumer surveys reveal that consumers do not want GMOs on their plate (e.g. 60% of Chinese consumers say no to GMOs). Germany, Switzerland and China exclude their own GMO companies from selling and growing their own GMO products in their home countries. So, these GMO/pesticide companies seek far away ‘mindless jurisdictions’ which will allow their products. Australia has 51% of the world’s certified organic agriculture hectares, and just 0.4% of the world’s GMO hectares. SA is a world leader in Organics and accounts for 40% of the certified organic agriculture hectares of Australia. The SA GMO Moratorium safeguards this important premium sector. GMO crops are ‘bargain basement’ crops that sell at a price penalty (e.g. 7.2% price penalty for WA GM canola). There is no way of containing or recalling GMOs. Once released into the environment they knit themselves into the genetic fabric of the foodscape, without any mechanism for recall. Most Australian consumers think that GMO foods are unsafe (90% in a recent survey survey), they may be right. There is at present a point of difference that Australia has from USA, also a major food exporter. Food in Australian supermarkets is non-GMO - mandated GMO labelling means that Australian food manufacturers and retailers exclude GMOs. There is no means for effectively segregating GMO crops and nor for avoiding contaminating non-GMO farms. The sensible decision for the Parliament of South Australia is to leave the SA GMO Moratorium in place.