March 17, 2009
GM alfalfa too costly for Australia
The cost of research and deregulation to bring Roundup-Ready Lucerne (alfalfa), a forage crop used for animal feed, may be too high for Australia, according to a report.
The glyphosate-tolerant GM crop, developed by Forage Genetics and Monsanto, was first available in the US in 2005 and will be re-released there later this year.
Bill Knipe, manager of the international division of Forage Genetics, said the Australian market may not yet be large enough for Forage, Monsanto and marketing partners to apply to have the product deregulated in Australia.
RR Lucerne could have a great market in Australia, depending on the price because of its production convenience compared to conventional Lucerne, which requires various chemical treatments to keep weeds under control.
To import and sell Roundup-Ready Lucerne, a GMO license would need to be issued by Australia's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator after a strict assessment process involving field trials and a risk assessment and risk management plan.