WA organic farmer lodges claim against GM farmer in landmark case
An organic farmer is seeking to recover loss and damage allegedly caused by a genetically modified (GM) canola farmer neighbour.
Steve Marsh, an organic farmer from Kojonup, Western Australia, says his crop suffered contamination by GM material on his farm in late 2010, leading to the loss of his organic certification and loss of income.
Australian law firm Slater & Gordon, on behalf of Mr Marsh, today lodged the claim in the WA Supreme Court.
The Safe Food Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that represents the organic industry says that the landmark case could have a major impact on the organic food industry.
Scott Kinnear, director of the Safe Food Foundation said, “If this landmark case fails, then Australia will follow Canada and North America’s dangerous lead, where there is virtually no GM-free canola available and GM residues are commonly contaminating non GM grain crops.
“There will be no turning back the GM tide as contamination sweeps through our food supply.”
I am a Friend of AUSBUY and they have been warning about this for ages – the issue is that if GM foods replace “real” food four global companies will control the supply chain for the worlds food. The growth of GM foods cuurently is because these companies are investing in Africa, The science is based on their findings not on independant studies.
The UK and EU do not want GM. Why should we.
Food Security is a global issue and we are squandering our skills and our assets and continuing to put our farmers and allowing foreign interests to buy our land. It does make one wonder.