Greenpeace gets a visit from the Police

After the recent attack on the GM crops by Greenpeace in Canberra, the police made a visit to their offices in Ultimo and locked the office down. Greenpeace claim that their motives for the destruction of the GM crops were concerns for health and environmental reasons.

A police spokesman said they were in the process of executing a search warrant on Greenpeace's headquarters over and alleged trespass and property damage incident at CSIRO in Canberra. The crop that they damaged had no connection to Monsanto. CropLife, a body which represents the science plant industry, last week condemned Greenpeace's attack, saying it delayed valuable scientific research. Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and the International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers

Farmers condemn attack on GM crop

Recently a group of Greenpeace protesters destroyed a crop of GM wheat at the CSIRO farm in Canberra. This destruction which has caused CAN$300,000 (€219,936.395) and a years worth of research. The New South Wales farmers Association condemned the action.

Mark Hoskinson, says "not only is it illegal, but it has destroyed valuable research which has been paid for by levies on Australian grain growers".  “Greenpeace has shown how completely irresponsible it is and has shown contempt for the biosecurity protocols that have been put in place in a controlled environment by the trained and professional CSIRO staff,” he says.  Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little, The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and the International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers

Australian farmers fight sale of AWB to Cargill

The New South Wales Farmers Assocation (NSWFA) is continuing its fight to stop the sale of AWB to US agribusiiness Cargill, telling Canberra that the move is against national interest and threatens the viability of family farming in Australia.

The NSWFA grains committee objected to the AUS$1.2 billion (€0.883 billion) sale following its announcement last December. NSWFA wants to maintain Australian ownership of AWB and convert it into a co-operative structure similar to CBH in WA.

They are looking for government assistance to help purchase the AWB commodity trading business, estimating its value at about AUS$850 million (€625.365 million) but don’t want government legislation re-introduced, to make grain acquisition compulsory, citing a distinct “lack of political will” in that area. Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers