Farmer slams GM review as going "too far, too fast"

Scott Lawson told the Horticulture NZ conference in Tauranga today that the Government is going “too far, too fast”.

“As growers we have nature’s bounty available to us and I found it abhorrent that someone can patent the trait of our genes. Are we selling our sovereignty,” he asked during a panel discussion at the conference.

The panel included Dr Zahra Champion, executive director of Biotech NZ, who spoke in favour of the review.

Champion says regulations around use of gene technology in New Zealand are outdated and need to be reviewed.

She points out that in NZ, traditional biotechnology is doing well, resulting in great companies and great innovations.

“That’s why we have a fantastic hort sector,” she says.

But Champion points out that modern biotech is “ringfenced as GMO”

“It can only be used in the research space and is too costly to use in the commercial space.”

Champion acknowledges that difficult discussions lie ahead but says it will come down to the definition of what is GMO and what is not GMO in the new regulations.

GMOs are primarily regulated in New Zealand under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO Act), its regulations, and related standards.

The Government is 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.

An industry working group is advising the Government and details of select committee hearing submissions will be released soon.

Lawson was critical of the lack of information forthcoming from the Government and shutting out farmers and growers from discussions.

He claimed that industry group representatives involved in discussions were bound by a confidentiality clause and couldn’t discuss anything with the sector.

“Our industry groups are involved in discussions, but they can’t share anything with us on what those discussions are.

“I don’t wish to see the horticulture industry and all their good work crushed by poorly thought regulations.”

Lawson also questioned how consumers, both locally and in our overseas markets, would react to NZ losing its GM-free status and its clean green image.

“I support the status otherwise we have got everything to lose,” he says.

“Right now, we’re GMO free and many of our companies leverage off this position,” he says.

Champion pointed out that NZ’s clean green image wasn’t just about GMO.

“It’s around our disease-free status, image and brand, high-quality product: it’s multi-factual and not just GMO or non-GMO.”

Champion says it was time to move on with the regulation update.

“We will need time to digest what the Government will propose, and everyone should have their say.”

Another panelist, T&G Global chief executive Gareth Edgecombe agreed that NZ’s status as a producer of high quality and natural food is paramount.

“As a nation, we need to get this right and be very careful: if the starting point puts at risk our clean green image, then that’s too much of a risk to take.”

Edgecombe noted that primary produce from NZ exported to the world are of the highest quality.

He says use of advancved breeding technologies like gene editing offer significant potential to drive future exports is paramount and could bring benefits like better taste for consumers and better orcharding outcomes like better pest management and use of less sprays.

Editor's note- story has been updated to correct spelling of Gareth Edgecombe's surname. We regret the error.