By Dan Rahn
University of Georgia

The aversion many people have to genetically modified organisms
might become the canola marketing advantage Georgia farmers
need.

Most canola varieties are genetically modified for herbicide
resistance, said Paul Raymer, a crop scientist with the
University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences.

But none of those GMO varieties are registered for use in the
Southern United States. “We can produce non-GMO canola,” Raymer
said.

“We’re in the unique position in North America of having no GMO
varieties grown around us,” he said. That means Georgia farmers
won’t have to worry about cross-pollination or mixing at
consolidation points with GMO canola varieties.

European shoppers are particularly keen on non-GMO
products. “But
we don’t have to go to Europe to find markets for non-GMO
canola,” he said.

No one knows how much value non-GMO canola would add to the
crop.
“We don’t have any markets locked down,” Raymer said. “But I
think it’s certainly worth pursuing.”