South Perth, Western Australia
January 25, 2010

Canola Breeders welcomes today’s announcement by Western Australia’s Minister for Agriculture Terry Redman for full release of genetically modified canola in Western Australia. Genetically modified canola provides growers with new options and the freedom to choose new canola varieties with GM traits. Mr Redman’s 2009 trial of GM canola showed that GM canola approved by the Federal Office of the Gene Technology Regulator could be safely and securely grown in Western Australia.

Canola Breeders (Canola Breeders Western Australia Pty Ltd) is a small independent and private canola breeding company in Western Australia, co-owned by farmers in the Council of Grain Grower Organisations Ltd, The University of Western Australia, Grains Research and Development Corporation and German plant breeding company Norddeutsche Pflanzenzucht Hans-Georg Lembke KG.

Canola Breeders has worked hard to bring a new generation Roundup Ready® canola hybrid variety to market. CB™ Eclipse RR (CHYB-166) yielded very well in National Variety Trials in 2009.

CB™ Eclipse RR was grown on two properties in the wheatbelt of WA under Minister Redman’s trial scheme in 2009. CB™ Eclipse RR tolerates glyphosate herbicide and this allows growers new options for weed control and early sowing in canola. CB™ Eclipse RR is the first early maturing and high yielding canola hybrid specifically bred for the wheatbelt of WA and other lower rainfall regions of southern Australia.

Roundup Ready® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC.

Website: http://www.cbwa.net.au

Published: January 25, 2010