SUPPORT for genetically modified crops appears to be slowly growing among the State's farmers, but there remains strong consumer resistance to the technology.
This is the message from a recent Rural Press Marketing Survey, undertaken exclusively for the Stock Journal, which asked for the views of farmers and consumers.
More than 60 per cent of the farmers surveyed said they believed having access to GM crops would offer economic benefits – a 12pc rise on a Stock Journal poll in February.
And there was an 18pc jump in farmers who believed GM crops would offer agronomic benefits, with 66pc believing this to be the case. The greatest benefits were believed to be increased yields, drought tolerance and reduced chemical use.
Despite many farmers believing there would be benefits to be gained from accessing these crops, only 45pc supported the State Government's ban on GM crops being lifted, and 46pc said they would grow the crops if given the choice. Of the consumers questioned as part of the survey, 93pc believed GM foods needed to be labeled as such, saying this would offer freedom of choice.
Only 34pc of consumers said they would be happy to eat food made from GM grain. More than 50pc believed GM foods posed health-risk concerns. And 80pc believed they were already consuming GM foods without knowing.
* Extract from a full report in Stock Journal, November 13 issue.