Growers welcome GM roses

By Tania Martin
THE Shire of Yarra Ranges has raised concerns over its power after a genetic modified rose trial in Silvan was approved despite it opposition to genetic modification in the shire.
However, nearby rose growers have questioned what all the fuss is about.
Despite the council’s 2001 policy that opposed the introduction of genetically modified crops in the shire, the Gene Technology Regulator will allow Japanese multinational company Florigene Suntori to grow a blue rose at Australian Roses in Silvan by using genetic modification methods.
The council last week agreed to write to the Gene Technology Act Review Panel raising its concerns over the council’s lack of power within the Gene Technology Act.
Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn said the council represented public concerns.
“We need to question the strength of the local authority (the council’s) as we are the ones who provide the real voice for our community,” she said.
Last month Cr Dunn said the council was concerned over the environmental impact that the rose trial could have in the shire.
She said that she was also disappointed that council’s standing on the issue had been disregarded with the approval of the trial.
“Not enough is known about the potential effects of genetically modified roses on insect life including native and exotic pollinating insects, its potential for recombinant viruses and the level of gene flow with other rose cultivators and potential weediness from altered genes,” Cr Dunn said.
Despite the council’s concerns over the blue rose trial, local rose growers have showed their support for the trial.
Newstead Rose Nursery owner Karen Nieuwestegg said although she didn’t know much about the trial, she said it sounded similar to hybridization of roses which has been going on for hundreds of years.
She said if this trial could produce a blue rose it would be ‘fantastic’ and that it would also be good for the rose industry in the hills.
“If we (Australian rose industry) can produce and sell the first blue rose to the world, it would be quite incredible,” she said.
Ms Nieuwestegg said finding the perfect blue rose had been a desire of rose growers for centuries.
Cathy Roberts from Ladybird Roses has also questioned why the council was opposed to the trial.
Ms Roberts said hybrid tea roses are already a genetically modified plant due to selective hybridization between species of roses from all parts of the northern hemisphere.
Talking about the council’s concerns for cross-species contamination, Ms Roberts said that genes from roses have never before crossed to any other plant species.
Ms Roberts said there was no floriculture threat to the shire as the trial of the blue rose is in a controlled environment with the flowers being removed before setting seed.
“We have no community outrage at all.
“We have had great interest with the general public wanting to know where they would be able to get hold of the world’s first blue rose,” she said.