Although state governments have powers over land which they have used to impose bans on GM crops, federal Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran has joined farm groups in calling for it to be lifted, saying there are environmental and economic benefits of the technology.

McGauran also dismissed states' opposition to GM crops as purely philosophical or ideological, adding that it makes no economic or environmental sense to do so.

McGauran said farmers should be able to decide whether to plant GM crops based on their reading of the market.

Whether consumers react against GM foods is a question for farmers and industries to decide and should not be a matter to be decided by governments, he said.