Last August Monsanto bought 20 per cent of grain research body InterGrain from the State Government and the two companies began a “technology collaboration”.
At the time is was said that Monsanto's $10.5 million investment would be "used to expand InterGrain’s expertise, upgrade infrastructure and make important technological advances." But just who is InterGrain, and why has the Labor Party been so opposed to the investment? How ethical is it for a company, that is particularly well known for its genetic engineering technology and bullish tactics in the United States agricultural sector, to be so involved in the research and breeding of cereal grain in WA?
InterGrain was set up as a company in October 2007, when the State Government transferred its Wheat Breeding program from the Department of Agriculture and the Grains Research Development Corporation (GRDC) into a newly formed company, that it then 100% owned. The timing of the formation of Intergrain was linked with the passing in 2007 of the WA Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act, which allows the government to be a shareholder in a commercial entity.
According to the Chairman of InterGrain, Dale Baker, the need to create a commercialised business set up around the wheat breading industry in WA was undeniable. “There is a trend in Australia for wheat breeding to be run as a business, rather than as a state government or university program. This move relates to the concept of competitive neutrality, where government resources may not be used to compete with commercial enterprise.
“Until the early 1990s, wheat breeding in Australia was through publicly funded programs and then in 1994 the passing of the Plant Breeders Rights Act allowed breeders to claim End Point Royalties.
“This payment, essentially for intellectual property rights, has enabled wheat breeding to become commercial,” Mr Baker said. Wheat, and ultimately wheat breeding, is a highly valuable asset for WA with 40 per cent of Australia’s wheat yield coming from WA.
InterGrain remain at the forefront of research and so far are yet to venture into genetic engineering. At the time of the Monsanto acquisition, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Terry Redman, suggested that there would be no immediate plans for implementation of GM crops in WA.
“In the short term there will be significant benefits to the conventional (non-GM) cereal breeding program which will utilise rapid and high volume robotic technologies and breeding systems to identify traits for high yield, drought tolerance and nutrient use efficiency,” he said.
“These breeding technology services will significantly improve our wheat varieties and ultimately deliver higher yields and value to WA growers.”
In all media reports surrounding the Monsanto acquisition there was a lot of talk about the major positives that the deal will have for InterGrain, as they could have access to Monsanto’s wealth of technology. What is less clear, however, are the reasons behind why Monsanto is so interested in WA’s agricultural sector. This lack of clarity leaves room for speculation that Monsanto may be trying to encourage an increase in the use of its herbicide RoundUp, or possibly the introduction of its RoundUp Ready (i.e. tolerant) GM crops.
What is undeniable is that there is a major opportunity for Monsanto to purchase more of InterGrain, possibly even a controlling interest, and with this comes the possibility that GM crops will be introduced to WA. More on GM crops next week. Originally Listed Here: http://3degree.ecu.edu.au/articles/3627
