In an important test case believed to be the first of its kind in the world, a judge ruled against a West Australian organic farmer who claimed his neighbour contaminated his farm with genetically modified canola.
The organic farmer sued his neighbour in the WA Supreme Court, alleging he lost organic certification from the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia for more than half his farm after GM canola drifted onto his land from his neighbour’s property. The organic farmer was raising oats, rye and sheep.
Lawyers for the organic farmer said it left non-genetically modified food farmers with no legal protection against contamination from neighbours.
Representatives of the Safe Food Foundation, which was supporting the organic farmer, said they were gravely concerned not only for the farmer but for the future of organic and non GM food remaining GM free.
The finding of the WA Supreme Court will be setting a dangerous precedent at the global level. Please sign the petition and demand that the WA Supreme Court revises its decision and protects the rights of organic farmers everywhere.
