Leah Prankerd: A passion for dairying and farmer support
It was love that first led Leah Prankerd to dairying.
The furore surrounding the proposal to end New Zealand’s near 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab isn’t going away.
OPINION: Submissions on the Government's contentious Gene Technology Bill have closed.
However, the furore surrounding the proposal to end New Zealand's near 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab isn't going away. There's opposition from within the Government's traditional support base - farmers and growers.
Gene technology isn't all bad of course. It's seen as being able to deliver enormous benefits, including access to better cancer treatments, and increased productivity for farmers through such things as disease-resistant and drought-resistant grasses, and tools to help meet emissions targets. The bill is seen by many as a major milestone in modernising our laws to unlock the potential of science.
There's support for the intent of the bill from dairy and sheep and beef farmers. However, some farmers are worried about the trade and market access risk.
DairyNZ points out that there is a well-established system and practices used for production of high-grade seed crops, which provide a working example of co-existence in practice.
Beef+Lamb NZ says that there are potential opportunities to improve farmers' productivity and environmental impacts. However, it says there are also several potential risks that still need to be addressed in the proposed legislation. These include potential market or trade implications, traceability and co-existence, and how risks are classified.
State-owned AgResearch supports the bull and says it provides the opportunity to align NZ's activities and regulations with those of our major trading partners such as the US, Australia, China, and potentially the EU.
But there's opposition from organic farmers who claim the bill is a threat to organic and conventional farmers, makes GMO-free certification impossible and places financial risks on farmers, not biotech companies. They also claim that deregulation of GE products could remove mandatory labelling, leaving consumers unaware of what's in their food, and economic and trade risks for New Zealand's $1 billion organic industry.
The Government remains committed. Gene technology is a powerful tool that has the potential to deliver enormous benefits for New Zealand, it says. They may have the numbers to pass the bill, but should not ignore the views of those who don't want it enacted.
According to ASB, Fonterra's plan to sell it's Anchor and Mainlands brands could inject $4.5 billion in additional spending into the economy.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.
The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.
Dignitaries from all walks of life – the governor general, politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay is encouraging farmers, growers, and foresters not to take unnecessary risks, asking that they heed weather warnings today.
With nearly two million underutilised dairy calves born annually and the beef price outlook strong, New Zealand’s opportunity to build a scalable dairy-beef system is now.

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