Gene Ethics director Bob Phelps said the stance of some European buyers, together with a commitment of Japanese importers to non-GM canola out of South Australia, the last major canola-producing state not to lift its moratorium on commercial production of GM canola, highlighted the market preference for non-GM.

"The Japanese are writing GM-free contracts with South Australian growers, where the government has extended their GM canola ban till 2014, while in Victoria last season, farmers who produced GM-free canola were paid up to $15 per tonne more than farmers who grew GM,” he said.

However, AOF vice president Robert Green said this market choice was what the AOF wanted when advocating the introduction of GM, saying the ability of the Australian canola industry to meet the requirement both for GM and non-GM was exactly what was both expected and intended when approval to grow GM was granted.

“The various Green groups seemed to have missed the point about the intention and capability of the industry to segregate non-GM canola to ensure that where there is demand for non-GM canola, it can be met,” he said.

Mr Phelps said the refusal of buyers wanting non-GM to source even non-GM canola out of grain terminals that handled GM product meant non-GM producers were getting a raw deal.

“Neither Elders Toepfer Grain, nor CBH, would buy canola from any receival depot that handled GM on the east coast last harvest.”

He called on the WA parliament to continue to prohibit the planting of GM canola, saying it was not what the market wanted and was unfair to non-GM producers.

However, Mr Green said co-existence of GM and non-GM had worked well.

“The practical experience and success in segregating non-GM canola in the eastern states has given the West Australian grains industry a walk up start in being able to ensure effective segregation throughout the supply chain of non-GM canola.

“This means that if any customers, be they domestic or international who require non-GM canola will be able to be supplied non-GM canola in line with their requirements,” Mr Green said.