Friday, 04 April 2025 14:49

Farmers must have right to choose on GE - Langford

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford

Federated Farmers supports a review of the current genetic technology legislation but insists that a farmer’s right to either choose or reject it must be protected.

Feds president Wayne Langford appeared before the parliamentary health select committee to present Federated Farmers’ views on the use of genetic technologies.

“We know this is a hot topic with our members, so I was very upfront with the politicians that farmers’ views on this issue are about as diverse as our individual farming systems,” Langford says.

He noted that many Feds members are in support of reforms, some are neutral, and others are firmly opposed.

“That’s why I put a real focus in my submission on protecting a farmer’s right to choose,” he says.

 Langford says Federated Farmers operate a democratic voting system driven from the grassroots up, not from the top down, and “we’ve taken the same approach in forming our view on this issue”.

 “After a lot of debate, delegates from our 24 provinces who sit on our National Council agreed to support a review of the current legislation and advocate for the benefits of genetic technology.

 “That being said, we also put a very clear condition on that support: that an individual farmer’s right to choose must be protected.

 “This means, as much as practicable, there need to be controls or systems put in place to block the spread of GE organisms onto properties of farmers who don’t want it.”

Langford notes that other countries, like Australia, have gone through similar reform. They now have growing rather than shrinking GE-free and organics industries, farming alongside use of GE crops, he points out.

“There are still questions around how we can achieve this ‘right to choose’, given our different climate and farming systems. That’s what needs more investigation, and careful drafting of regulation.

  “We also propose regular system reviews to ensure whatever is brought in is working for all farmers and growers.”

On trade, Langford says giving farmers the right to choose will mean individual farmers and the companies they supply can determine this, taking into consideration their customers’ preferences.

 “Whichever side of the fence you’re on regarding this topic, I hope you can see we’ve listened carefully to both sides of the argument and tried to find a pathway forward,” he says.

 “Ultimately, it’s individual farmers who should be able to weigh up the worth of any premium from being GE-free, compared to any benefits of using a GE crop or grass.”

More like this

Working with farmers to ensure best outcomes

OPINION: Recent media commentary from Southland Federated Farmers has raised concerns among our rural communities, particularly around Environment Southland’s approach to winter grazing inspections and nitrogen reporting. But let’s be clear, much of what’s been said simply doesn’t reflect reality.

Editorial: Nitrate emergency?

OPINION: Environment Canterbury's (ECan) decision recently to declare a so-called “nitrate emergency” is laughable.

Federated Farmers slam Canterbury nitrate emergency

A shameless political stunt is how Federated Farmers is describing the Canterbury Regional Council decision to declare “a nitrate emergency” on the back of its latest annual groundwater quality survey.

Featured

'One more push' to eliminate FE

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.

Winston Peters questions Fonterra divestment plan

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Quid prod quo?

OPINION: Ageing lefty Chris Trotter reckons that the decision to delay recognition of Palestinian statehood is more than just a fit…

Deadwood

OPINION: A mate of yours truly recently met someone at a BBQ who works at a big consulting firm who spent…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter