New South Wales (NSW) is lifting its ban on genetically modified crops to deliver a multi-billion-dollar boost to its primary industry. Adopting the genetically modified (GM) technology is estimated by the government to deliver up to $4.8 billion in financial gains across New South Wales’ primary industries over the next ten years. Announcing the NSW government’s decision to end the 18-year moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops on July 1, NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said on March 2, that the GM moratorium was enacted over twenty years ago to manage trade and marketing issues. “The potential agronomic and health benefits of future GM crops include everything from drought and disease resistance, to more efficient uptake of soil nutrients, increased yield and better weed control,” Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said. The reform is expected to boost production by almost 10 percent and save farmers up to 35 percent in costs. The decision also brings NSW in …