Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/131994
news&views Images in this section are for illustrative purposes only Genetically modified solution While seeking to retain its 'clean, green food bowl' credentials by banning genetically modified (GM) crops, the Government of South Australia may potentially be putting the state's farmers out of business. The government has committed to upholding the ban until at least 2019, but SA's peak grain body warns that the risk of ignoring the impact of climate change and increased drought conditions on farming practices will only do the state a disservice. Grain Producers SA chairman Garry Hansen says GM technology could result in more drought-tolerant crops, so the moratorium should end. "We are falling behind in being able to do the research and the on-ground testing of GM technology to find what [crop] varieties work and what varieties don't work so we can prepare ourselves for lower rainfall," he told the ABC. Avoiding the plague Swarms of locusts have been spotted in New South Wales' central west, prompting concern over a possible plague in spring. The Central West Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA) says bands of locusts have been detected between Dubbo, Gilgandra and Warren, and is urging farmers to be on the lookout. Senior ranger Lisa Thomas warns that a more developed swarm has also been identified; the LHPA believes it blew in from Queensland during a recent storm. "It's not particularly big in size, but it still is quite a concern for us because, left unattended, those locusts will breed and we'll have a much bigger problem come spring," she told the ABC. "If we can take these locusts out now, we're one step in front of disaster." Debate over development damage Rapid expansion on the Queensland coast, particularly around the Port of Gladstone, has led to concerns about the impact of development on the Great Barrier Reef. UNESCO's World Heritage committee raised the alarm after a trip to the region last year, and is considering whether the reef will go on its 'In danger' list, prompting a joint strategic assessment of the reef by the federal and Queensland governments. The mining industry, conservationists and port developers have all been invited to make submissions. While conservationists such as Felicity Wishart from the Australian Marine Conservation Society claim the dredging and shipping in Gladstone is already placing enormous pressure on the reef's delicate ecosystem, lobby group Ports Australia maintains that many of the arguments against development are based on emotion, not science, and is conducting its own research to add weight to the debate. 47