Giz wants to see sustainable agriculture practices and thriving rural communities. The Greens support research into innovations in sustainable agriculture and industries without the use of Genetically Modified crops. Giz firmly believes that the biotechnology industry (relating to genetic modification in plants and animals) has failed to demonstrate safe and ethical procedures and protocols in relation to environmental and human health.

Giz strongly opposes the release of genetically modified plants, animals and micro-organisms into the environment. Giz wants:

• the principle of 'unsafe until proven otherwise' to be applied to the release of genetically altered organisms in to the environment
• independent research carried out under appropriate conditions of safety for those involved and for the public and biosphere at large
• no adverse impact on non-GE producers or consumers
• no approval of the patenting of life forms.

Giz is appalled that with the approval of an exemption for the cultivation of GM canola by the Minister for Agriculture and Food on 25 January 2010, the moratorium on the commercial cultivation of genetically modified crops has in fact being abolished in WA. Giz regards this decision as an unwelcome act against the spirit of the Genetically Modified Crops Free Areas Act 2003. Read the outcome of the recent review of this Act here.

Read more on GM Crops Free Areas Exemption Order 

Suggested links:

• Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren on genetically modified food
• Greens (WA) Policy on Sustainable Agriculture
• True Food Network - Campaign by Greenpeace Australia Pacific
• A Bad Decision: why WA should reverse course on GM crops,  2010 paper by Dr Maggie Lilith,  Conservation Council of Western Australia “