Concerns about herbicide tolerance
Farmers are concerned that herbicide resistance can emerge in weeds. For example, extensive use of triazines has led to the natural emergence of triazine-resistant ryegrass, which is a weed of many crops. When resistance emerges, ryegrass becomes more difficult to control.
The use of herbicide-tolerant crops and their relevant herbicides has the potential to control weeds better, but only if a cautious approach is taken in their management. Care needs to be taken to prevent weedy species developing resistance to the herbicide.
Information on the regulations governing the release of herbicide-resistant crops can be found on the website of the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR): www.ogtr.gov.au
In 2003, the OGTR approved the commercial release of the two types of herbicide-resistant canola – Roundup Ready® and InVigor®. In 2008, GM canola will be grown commercially on a small scale in Australia for the first time.