In a major win for anti-GE campaigners, the South Australian Government has committed to keeping the state non-GE until 2014. Newly elected Premier Mike Rann has extended South Australia’s GE Moratorium to 2014, to protect the state’s clean, green brand and the marketing advantage this gives SA farmers in the UK and Europe.Extending the moratorium on growing genetically engineered or modified crops was one of the first decisions made by the new government. Protecting the state’s overseas trade was the main reason for the decision.
The food and wine industry in South Australia has played a major role in taking this message to government and to buyers around the world. Kangaroo Island Pure Grain is one of the leading promotors of South Australia’s clean, green marketing image for food. The company is now marketing its grain directly to Japan, one of the biggest markets in the world.
“We met with a group of Japanese mothers and listened to what they want as consumers,” said KI Pure Grain CEO Duncan MacGillivray. “We’ve got a very good product and we’re very careful with the cleanliness specifications and documentation – minimal chemicals, GM free and food safety.”
Greenpeace, together with Gene Ethics, mothers’ group MADGE and the South Australian Soil Association will continue to meet with the South Australian Government to further develop the state’s non-GE position. Once again, the support provided by the True Food Network, particularly their role in contacting food companies to tell them domestic consumers don’t want to eat GE foods, has been a major influence in turning the tide against GE foods.
