Concern over GM rose trial

By Tania Martin
AN UPWEY resident fears genetically modified (GM) blue roses being trialled in Silvan will contaminate the surrounding Dandenong Ranges during transportation.
Christian O’Dea said he understood the trial was being conducted in a contained environment but said GM crops can escape from controlled environments such as greenhouses.
He cited a case in America where GM canola was being transported and a seed escaped from the truck which led to GM crops growing on a roadside alongside unmodified canola crops.
Mr O’Dea’s concerns were highlighted last week at a forum in Selby held by Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn.
He said the transport of the GM roses was the problem, not the fact that they were being trialled in an isolated factory or laboratory.
Despite the council’s 2001 policy opposing the introduction of genetically modified crops in the shire, the Gene Technology Regulator approved the trial to allow Japanese multinational company Florigene Suntori to grow GM blue roses at Australian Roses in Silvan.
In April Cr Dunn raised concerns over the trial saying that it could be dangerous for the shire’s agricultural and horticultural industries.
She said not enough was known about the effects of GM roses on insect life, including native and exotic pollinating insects.
The council is now calling on the Federal Government to stop the trial.
However, Doctor Steve Chandler from Florigene said the trial was being conducted in a greenhouse at Australian Roses with mesh on both the inside and the outside so that no materials can get in or out of the facility.
Dr Chandler also said any waste material from the trial roses, such as cuttings from pruning, are put directly into a compost bin inside the greenhouse.
He said he had yet to hear any scientific reason why the trial should not proceed.
Dr Chandler said he had tried to contact the council about its concerns but had been unsuccessful. He said that although the council had said many residents in the shire were opposed to the trial, Florigene had not received any complaints.
Mr O’Dea said he personally doesn’t mind GM roses being trialed – he just doesn’t want the trial in the shire. He said it didn’t matter how safe the trial was – residents of the Dandenong Ranges didn’t want it.
Dr Chandler said Florigene was willing to listen to any scientific concerns about the trial, but that it would not abandon 20 years of research because the Shire of Yarra Ranges believed it should remain GM free.