| GM CANOLA FACT SHEET - A PROFIT OR A LOSS?
GM canola is the least popular of the GM crops with only 18% global adoption and almost all of that grown in Canada. While both Canadian and Australian canola yields experienced a gradual increase in yields as farm practises improved, statistics show that Canadian yields did not increase as GM canola was introduced. Australian and Canadian canola yields are very similar and there is no evidence of the 10-40% yield increase promoted.
Over 20% of Canadian farmers prefer a non-GM variety called Clearfield and yet that same variety is available, but not popular in Australia.
There is also now very clear evidence of a price penalty associated with GM or GM contaminated produce. Attempts to segregate in Canada failed and almost all canola is sold as GM. Canada lost their premium over Australian canola of $US32.68/tonne and are now faced with price penalties up to $US30/tonne and are experiencing large carryover stocks despite their major market being US which is not GM sensitive.
With little benefit, higher costs and lower commodity prices and an inability to segregate, there is a risk, not a benefit associated with GM canola.
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