Australia's first harvest of genetically modified canola is underway and the proponents of the crop technology claim it represents an opportunity to improve overall sustainability while also meeting customer requirements.
According to the Australian Oilseeds Federation, the GM canola crops are being grown using "proven and agreed protocols and procedures".
And AOF president, Robert Green, says the technology is vital for the Australian canola industry to remain competitive.
"The industry strongly supports GM canola on the basis that market choice is delivered - that is, all customer requirements and specifications are met, including those wishing to purchase GM and non-GM product - by using our world-class grain production, handling, transport and processing protocols and procedures," Mr Green said.
"The grains industry has always operated on the basis of agreed standards and thresholds.
"These are the basis of all the different types of grain the industry trades and handles on a daily basis.
"While some very low level presence of seed or volunteers around delivery sites may be elevated as an 'issue', the fact is that this is easily, routinely and comprehensively managed, and it is simply a fact-of-life."
Mr Green says managing GM canola is no different to managing all the different conventional varieties of canola.
According to the AOF, GM crops have been grown, traded and consumed globally since 1996.
For more than a decade in Australia, cottonseed oil and meal has been used by our food and feed sectors, as has imported soybean meal, soybean oil and canola seed, much of it from GM varieties.
"GM canola is not in the news overseas. In Canada, GM varieties account for over 85pc of the canola crop, and it has been sought, shipped and purchased for 12 years," Mr Green said.
"Canadian farmers will harvest a record 11.7 million tonnes of canola this year and their industry will keep growing."