
In May 2020, the South Australian Parliament passed legislation which lifted the moratorium on production of Genetically Modified (GM) crops within the state.
The Government’s Genetically Modified Crops Management (Designated Area) Amendment Bill 2020 allows councils to apply to retain South Australia’s GM crop moratorium.
All other areas will then have the moratorium lifted except Kangaroo Island where the ban will remain in place.
Individual council areas have six months to apply to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development to be designated a non-GM area, with the final decision to be made by the Minister.
Coorong District Council are currently considering whether to proceed with this application.
To assist in making an informed decision Council surveyed residents to gain information on the views of persons engaged in primary production, or other industry that may be impacted by this decision.
The information gathered from the survey will be used to inform Coorong District Council’s path forward.