Dr Maarten Stapper, BAgSc AgEng PhD FAIAST
Presentation plus Q&A on GMO science, especially Roundup Ready crops and glyphosate, impacts on farming systems (soil, weeds, diseases, insects), food quality and the health of humans, animals and landscape.

A research scientist at CSIRO for many years, Maarten is now a private consultant assisting farmers in the transition from high-input industrial to biological farming systems, focusing on improving profitability by harnessing the power of natural soil processes, improving use of inputs and understanding those practices that negatively impact on soil health.

Cost: Gold Coin donation. Enquiries: Janet 0420 820 713

Related event: "Healthy Foods From Gardens" 2pm-4pm. Stay on for a cuppa and chat, then "GMO Science" at 5pm.
www.nutrisoil.com.au/news-events/dr-maarten-stapper-wa-tour-july-2015/

Healthy soil produces healthy crops and pastures, requiring less fertilisers and agrochemicals for similar productivity, plants becoming more drought and frost tolerant, and providing healthier, mineral denser feed and food. Current soil problems are the result of gross oversimplification of fertilization and ‘crop protection’ practices that use harsh chemicals and ignore the delicate balance of microbes, trace minerals, nutrients and carbon in the soil. Hence GM technology is not the solution to our problems as it only treats individual symptoms through plant-gene expression, not the wider cause of soil degradation, weeds, diseases and insects. Science must take a broader, holistic view to achieve the sustainable development of agricultural industries, to look at the whole farming system recognising agricultural and environmental sciences are intertwined.

Maarten featured in ABC Australian Story “Back to Earth” on 1 June 2009:
www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/stapper/

2015 International Year of Soils:
www.fao.org/soils-2015/about/en/