Genetically modified canola trials in 2009

During 2009, just over 860 hectares of Roundup Ready® canola were grown in Western Australia enabled by an exemption order under the Genetically Modified Crops Free Areas Act 2003. The aim of the trials was to establish whether GM canola could be segregated from non-GM canola along the WA supply chain, and whether GM canola was agronomically viable for WA farming systems. This was the first time genetically modified canola had been grown on a commercial scale in WA - earlier exemptions for smaller trials had been for variety testing and scientific purposes