Agrifood Awareness Australia Limited, launched in May 1999, is an industry initiative, established to increase public awareness of, and encourage informed debate about, gene technology. Agrifood Awareness Australia is committed to providing quality, factual information on the use of gene technology in agriculture, and the implications this may have on the entire food chain.
Agrifood Awareness Australia Limited is an alliance supported by three peak bodies:
Avcare - is the National Association for Crop Production and Animal Health, and is Australia's only industry organisation representing the manufacturers and distributors of both crop production and veterinary health products.
Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) - is one of the world's leading grains research organisations, responsible for planning, investing and overseeing research and development, delivering improvements in production, sustainability and profitability across the Australian grains industry. The GRDC's mission is to invest in research and development for the greatest benefit to its stakeholders - graingrowers and the Commonwealth. The GRDC's vision is for a profitable, internationally competitive and ecologically sustainable grains industry.
National Farmers' Federation (NFF) - was established in 1979 and is the single, national voice for Australian agriculture. It is a federation of Australian farm organisations representing approximately 120,000 farm enterprises through 29 affiliated organisations. The federation is made up of State farm organisations, commodity councils, associates and affiliates.
Agrifood Awareness Australia Limited has a number of communication resources developed to facilitate consumer debate on gene technology. These include:
a series of fact sheets addressing the science of, and issues relating to, gene technology;a website providing daily news items, fact sheets, and a comprehensive 'links' section; a colourful, easy-to-read booklet titled "Gene Technology in Australia: fact not fiction", which includes information on the world status of GM crops, current research, GM foods in the marketplace, and sources for further information; a speakers bureau - a selection of credible speakers available for events and forums.
As part of its brief, Agrifood Awareness Australia Limited provides a number of gene technology educational opportunities, including gene technology workshops run by CSIRO. The two-day, hands-on workshops allow participants to gain a basic understanding of the laboratory techniques that underpin gene technology.
