AS the landmark trial between organic farmer Steve Marsh and genetically modified-canola grower Michael Baxter entered its second week this week, Margaret River’s organic farming community have thrown their support behind Mr Marsh.
The world is watching as Mr Marsh seeks $85,000 in financial damages after around 70 per cent of his 478 hectare farm was decertified organic after allegedly being contaminated by Mr Baxter’s neighbouring swathed GM canola crop in 2010.
At the end of the first week of the trial proceedings, organic certification guidelines and the zero tolerance policy of contamination were the major points of interest, after days of Mr Marsh being questioned by prosecution and defence lawyers.
Margaret River’s Burnside Organic Farm owner Lara McCall said she and husband Jamie admire Mr Marsh.
“He is not doing this for himself but for our children and the next generations. If he wins he will help protect the right of people to choose to eat food uncontaminated by GM,” Ms McCall said.
Ms McCall said unlike parts of Europe, Australia does not have labelling laws for GM products, and so consumers need to avoid processed foods altogether if they wish to avoid GM products.
“European consumers could see what food had added GMO’s and they stopped buying it. Now Nestle, Kraft and other large companies manufacture European food without GMO’s. In Australia they include GM ingredients,” Ms McCall said.
Margaret River resident Sally Wylie has also expressed her support for Mr Marsh’s case, although she has what she calls a “large organic garden,” and the food grown is mainly for personal use.
“One of the reasons many of us eat organically is precisely because we can feel confident of avoiding food contaminated with GM,” Ms Wylie said.
She also echoed Ms McCall’s comments that GM crops have been implicated in adverse health effects.
“Roundup Ready GM crops are designed to be regularly drenched in Round-up. The latest research points to serious health effects from the Glyphosate plus other chemicals within the Round-up,” she said.
“The implications for the GM industry are also serious. In the US and Canada biotech corporations have been able to sue for royalties any farmer whose land has been contaminated with patented GM plants.”
The trial is expected to continue for another two weeks, and Justice Kenneth James Martin is expected to hand down a decision in April or May.
