February 25, 2009
Australia releases GM stockfeed report
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) has published a report which helps indicates market acceptance of edible products and pigs and other farm animals fed on GM stockfeed.
The increasing use of GM crops has led to a greater presence in stockfeed mixes in both Australia and overseas, said ABARE executive director Phillip Glyde.
The report found little evidence of Australian consumers and major export markets rejecting animals fed stockfeed containing GM ingredients, Glyde said.
However, the report noted that consumer awareness of the current use of GM ingredients in stockfeed appears to be low in both cases.
While a few consumer acceptance studies in Australia and the US indicate some consumer aversion to consuming products from animals fed GM feed, there is no evidence that suggest it is lowering demand.
ABARE said given current GM regulations and degrees of consumer acceptance and awareness in Australia and its major livestock product export markets, it is unlikely that Australian livestock producers using GM feed will be disadvantaged.