Fake news is an ever-present danger for Australian agriculture that hinders access to scientifically approved, Genetically Modified wheat varieties, while prompting emotive debates, like the current one on energy affordability, according to the new Crawford Fund Chairman and former Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson.
He is seeking less emotion and great scientific focus in such critical policy debates. Mr Anderson is also co-patron of the Agricultural Biotechnology Council of Australia and said that, despite GM wheat varieties being foreshadowed for commercialisation in seven to 10 years, that time-frame was closing but progress had “stalled”, despite advances in the science.
“This is not a hick country; we have good scientists and we have good regulatory bodies in this country.
“There’s no suggestion of Frankenstein-foods here in Australia but we have drought resistant wheats for example, developed by the WA Department of Agriculture and Food, that are being sat on, for ideological reasons, which to me makes no sense at all.”
“If we’re talking about fake news now, there’s plenty of fake news when it comes to the use of science in agriculture and indeed in energy policy.
“We need to be cool-headed and respond to the science which is what the Crawford Fund is all about and what biotechnology is all about, and make calm, reasoned, rational decisions and not be so driven by emotions.”
source: goodfruitandvegetables.com.au
