A parliamentary question probes the WA government's economic impact assessment of genetically modified crops and potential financial gains for the Department of Agriculture and Food and its partners. The Minister confirms the department's analysis role but refrains from speculating on financial gains.

AnsweredQoN 1106Legislative Council
Asked
12 November 2009
Portfolio
Agriculture and Food

QuestionView source ↗

Genetically Modified Crops — ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT
(1) Can the minister confirm that the state government has responsibility for assessing the likely economic impacts of the introduction of genetically modified crops on the state? (2) Does the Department of Agriculture and Food or its partnerships or alliance companies, such as InterGrain, stand to gain financially from the introduction of genetically modified crops? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Department of Agriculture and Food undertakes analysis on the impact of new technology on the state, which may include genetically modified crops. Farmers make their own assessments as to the likely impact on their farm businesses. (2) The Department of Agriculture and Food would not gain financially from the introduction of genetically modified crops. InterGrain and other crop breeding companies are investigating genetically modified technology as part of collaborations with national research centres. It is not possible to speculate on any financial gains they might obtain if genetically modified crops were to be introduced into Western Australia.
(2) Does the Department of Agriculture and Food or its partnerships or alliance companies, such as InterGrain, stand to gain financially from the introduction of genetically modified crops? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Department of Agriculture and Food undertakes analysis on the impact of new technology on the state, which may include genetically modified crops. Farmers make their own assessments as to the likely impact on their farm businesses. (2) The Department of Agriculture and Food would not gain financially from the introduction of genetically modified crops. InterGrain and other crop breeding companies are investigating genetically modified technology as part of collaborations with national research centres. It is not possible to speculate on any financial gains they might obtain if genetically modified crops were to be introduced into Western Australia.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Department of Agriculture and Food undertakes analysis on the impact of new technology on the state, which may include genetically modified crops. Farmers make their own assessments as to the likely impact on their farm businesses. (2) The Department of Agriculture and Food would not gain financially from the introduction of genetically modified crops. InterGrain and other crop breeding companies are investigating genetically modified technology as part of collaborations with national research centres. It is not possible to speculate on any financial gains they might obtain if genetically modified crops were to be introduced into Western Australia.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Department of Agriculture and Food undertakes analysis on the impact of new technology on the state, which may include genetically modified crops. Farmers make their own assessments as to the likely impact on their farm businesses. (2) The Department of Agriculture and Food would not gain financially from the introduction of genetically modified crops. InterGrain and other crop breeding companies are investigating genetically modified technology as part of collaborations with national research centres. It is not possible to speculate on any financial gains they might obtain if genetically modified crops were to be introduced into Western Australia.
(1) The Department of Agriculture and Food undertakes analysis on the impact of new technology on the state, which may include genetically modified crops. Farmers make their own assessments as to the likely impact on their farm businesses. (2) The Department of Agriculture and Food would not gain financially from the introduction of genetically modified crops. InterGrain and other crop breeding companies are investigating genetically modified technology as part of collaborations with national research centres. It is not possible to speculate on any financial gains they might obtain if genetically modified crops were to be introduced into Western Australia.
(2) The Department of Agriculture and Food would not gain financially from the introduction of genetically modified crops. InterGrain and other crop breeding companies are investigating genetically modified technology as part of collaborations with national research centres. It is not possible to speculate on any financial gains they might obtain if genetically modified crops were to be introduced into Western Australia.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more