THE risk of losing international markets due to genetically modified (GM) canola contamination comes down to just a tip of a bucket according to Labor MLC for the Agricultural Region Darren West.
Mr West shared his concerns in a member's statement to the Legislative Council last week after load of canola he delivered became contaminated during the sampling process at the CBH Avon site.
He was told his contaminated load would need to be put on the GM canola stack, but he would still be paid a premium for the load he was delivering.
"I just couldn't believe my ears... you could see it, it was a really different colour spread across the truck in a little strip," he said.
"I said we can get this out, even if we take 10 buckets out we will get it.
"But they said no you will still get paid but we have to put it on the GM stack because it's now contaminated."
Mr West, who has previously voiced his party's intentions to stop grower access and use of the technology if elected in 2017, further questioned CBH on the contamination issue.
He said he referred to an internationally accepted 0.9 per cent contamination tolerance of GM material, but was informed CBH preferred to deal with the issue in the manner he observed.
CBH Kwinana Zone manager Gavin Bignell said CBH maintained a strict segregation of GM and non-GM canola throughout the supply chain.
He said this involved segregated storage and sampling to ensure the strict export regulations and requirements of clients were adhered to.
"CBH takes a conservative approach to GM segregating to protect WA's international markets," he said.
"Very few of our sites receive both GM and non-GM canola, making segregation of the two grades a simple process."
He said CBH took responsibility for stack management and segregation and would not financially penalise any grower if an error was made during the receival process.
"That very small amount of grain affected would be managed by the CBH system," Mr Bignell said.
"CBH does not take a position regarding the utilisation of GM technology by WA growers.
"As a grower-owned co-operative, CBH endeavours to provide our grower members with market choice by offering a supply chain that is able to store, handle and market GM and non-GM grain if growers wish to grow it and there is a market available for it.
"Since the introduction of GM-canola in WA for 2009/10 season CBH has successfully managed the segregation of both types allowing over four million tonnes of canola to be exported to the discerning non-GM market."
Mr West said it was clear from this conservative approach the industry still did not have the framework to deal with GM and non-GM products where clients expected non-contaminated product.
However, he accepted CBH's conservative approach to contamination and said it was pleasing as it was clear international buyers had no tolerance for contamination.
He said his concern was the system was taking both types of grain and relied on responsibility being taken by growers and truck drivers to not contaminate the loads.
"I accept that they're smarter at this than I am," Mr West said.
"If there was a stuff up and we lost the market with the $50 premium or whatever it is each season, that's a significant premium.
"It makes you realise the importance of those markets and the affect it would have on the industry if we lost them.
"It's a real loss to industry in this happening but there's a cost to the industry now (if contamination happens and a premium is still paid)."
Mr West estimated his downgrade would have cost WA growers $1334 and was told at the Avon site this can happen to about 500t of grain per season.
"Imagine how many tonnes this affects across the State," he said.
"The cost will have to be absorbed somehow and we know growers always bear the brunt of these things eventually."
Commercial production of GM canola was first allowed in WA by the current Liberal/National government in 2010, following successful large-scale on-farm trials the season before.
The exemption order under the Crops Free Areas Act was written by then agriculture minister Terry Redman allowing GM canola to be grown across the State.
Introduced in 2003, it provides the agriculture minister with powers to designate areas of the State where GM crops can't be cultivated, or specific GM crops.
It also gives the minister powers to destroy GM crops and imposes $200,000 penalty for recklessly or knowingly growing the technology in restricted areas.
According to figures provided by Monsanto Australia, the amount of GM canola planted in WA has steadily increased, with 86,000 hectares planted in 2010, 94,800ha in 2011, 121,694ha in 2012, 167,596ha in 2013, 260,000ha in 2014 and 337,000ha this year.
