If re-elected Labor has promised to spend an additional $5 million to help Western Australian food producers market their produce in Australia and overseas as GM free, and to develop non-GM plant varieties suited to local farming conditions.
This is in stark contrast to the Liberal Party which has promised to allow GM crops to be grown in WA.
Premier Alan Carpenter said $2 million would be provided to assist WA food producers to certify and market their products within Australia and overseas as GM Free.
"This clean, green marketing strategy will be supported by a certification system managed by the Department of Agriculture and Food and through messages at overseas trade shows and promotional material provided by WA's overseas trade offices and Government websites," Mr Carpenter said.
A further $2 million will be provided to the Department of Agriculture and Food to develop high yielding salt, drought and frost tolerant varieties of wheat and barley, and high yielding canola and mustard varieties.
The pledge was immediately welcomed by anti-GM lobby, the Gene Ethics Network, which said the policy would provide a "bonanza" for WA farmers.
"A well-funded GM-free certification and marketing program in Western Australia, for four more years, will allow the strong demand for GM-free foods to be met in Australia and overseas," says Gene Ethics director Bob Phelps.
"Open market access at price premiums will be assured.
"We also applaud the government's commitment to research the GM-free solutions to land and water degradation and climate change, using tried and true plant breeding methods instead of flawed and failed GM techniques."
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