An exclusive Stock Journal survey has found that 46 per cent of South Australian farmers do not support the moratorium on genetically-modified crops being lifted.
In 2008, the Rann government pledged to maintain the moratorium on growing GM canola, saying there was no evidence it would have a positive impact.
This stance was reiterated during the 2010 election campaign.
But according to the survey, the number of farmers wanting the moratorium being lifted has not changed since November 2008 and remains at 45pc. The swing has come from undecided poll participants, falling from 17pc to 9pc.
There has been a 10pc swing against the moratorium being lifted from a survey undertaken in November 2008 when 36pc did not support it.The greatest opposition to the moratorium being lifted came from the Mid North of SA, with 57pc of the region's farmers anti-GM. The highest percentage supporting the moratorium being lifted came from the South East, at 50pc.
Of those who do want to grow GM crops, 80pc would like to grow canola and 73pc wheat.
There has also been a swing in farmers who believe any lifting of the moratorium would destroy the State's clean, green image, rising from 29pc to 41pc.
State Agriculture Minister Michael O'Brien said there was no turning back once the moratorium had been lifted.
"We understand there are mixed views among farmers, scientists and the general community regarding GM crops," he said.
Mr O'Brien said by continuing the moratorium SA would be able to:
- Give long-term consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of the market and trade outcomes in those states now cultivating commercial GM canola.
- Assess any advantage or premium the SA canola industry is able to extract in markets by being the only major canola-producing state remaining non-GM.
- Assess any disadvantages from not having access to the technology, which will become apparent given the experiences of canola growers in the states allowing cultivation of GM canola.
And the government is confident GM material will not enter SA, despite crops being grown over the border in Victoria and New South Wales.
Mr O'Brien said by not allowing GM seed to be transported through SA, any risks of accidental spillage - which could adversely affect the non-GM status of SA agriculture in markets and trade - were alleviated.
"The seed industry has resolved the transport issue for 2010 by arranging sea freight for the GM canola seed from the eastern states to WA," he said.
Mr O'Brien said Viterra had worked with the SA government to ensure the chain of evidence was not compromised should there be a detection of GM canola in SA's grain deliveries.
"Viterra have an implemented GM testing strategy that has been in place for all harvests since the 2008-09 harvest that includes grower declarations, sampling and trace-back systems," he said.
Copyright © 2010. Fairfax Media.
