Convenor of the Bendigo GE Free Group Gill Rosier says the lifting of the moratorium on GM food crops has disadvantaged many groups.

The fight against GM is set to continue.

"This forum is a perfect opportunity to get an update on the council’s official GM policy and the GM situation, both locally and state wide, after the Victorian government lifted the moratorium,“ Ms Rosier sys.

She claims the growing of GM canola has limited marketing options for those going GM-free.

“Victoria’s canola farmers now can’t legally export as GM-free, because of the decision of a small number of growers to plant Monsanto’s GM canola," she says.

“Beekeepers and honey packers don’t know the exact locations of the GM canola crops, and are at risk of lower prices from GE contamination.

“Grain harvesters are worried about liability from GM seed contamination in their machinery.

"And the organic and biodynamic sectors would lose certification if they become GM contaminated.”

The line-up of speakers at Bendigo Council’s forum, titled, ‘GM Crops and Foods – The winners and losers’, will include:

• Maarten Stapper, soil scientist and former principal research scientist with CSIRO,

• Graham Connell, a central Victorian apiarist,

• Graeme Mulholland, of the Australian Grain Harvesters Association and

• Francis Murrell and Jessica Harrison of consumer group, MADGE (Mothers are Demystifying GE), formerly Mothers Against GE.

The forum will be held at 7.30 pm today, Friday August 29, at the Bendigo library theatrette.