Editorial: Starting the GM conversation

Last week, it was evident that many stakeholders are warming to the idea of revisiting the regulations governing genetic technologies in New Zealand, as the science has advanced rapidly in recent years.

The Government’s roadmap includes legislation ending New Zealand’s nearly 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab and setting up a dedicated regulator to oversee applications to use gene technology. Both should be in place by the end of next year. Opposition parties, the Greens and Labour, aren’t ruling out supporting the legislation.

The Government’s roadmap includes legislation ending New Zealand’s nearly 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab and setting up a dedicated regulator to oversee applications to use gene technology. Both should be in place by the end of next year. Opposition parties, the Greens and Labour, aren’t ruling out supporting the legislation.

Farmers are always looking for new technologies to help them improve their production, increase their profit, or reduce their environmental footprint. Also to help them reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve drought resilience, or increase farm production.

They are real possibilities, however, there will always be risks and trade-offs that need to be carefully considered too, like how international consumers would feel about such a change.

Therefore, the Feds rightly point out that any legislation needs to be fit for purpose and adequately address any possible risks.

The potential opportunities here are too great to just leave them sitting on the table without even looking at them. The Government has launched the conversation and that’s a great start.