Other Related Sites

Sustainability Council
Ministry for the Environment
Environmental Risk Management Agency

Largest user of canola oil goes GE-free
"One of New Zealand's biggest food companies, Goodman Fielder, has taken a stand against genetic engineering ..."
25 November 2003
NEW ZEALAND HERALD

Growers: tears in GM onions
"New Zealand should be looking at other ways to control weeds rather than by producing herbicide tolerant onions, growers say ..."
17 November 2003
NEW ZEALAND HERALD

New Zealand's unsullied natural image seems veil of lies
"... It's as if all the clean, green marketing, the image New Zealand has worked so hard to cultivate around the world, is no more than a thin veil of lies ..."
10 November 2003
NEW ZEALAND HERALD

GM pine trees in
virus probe

"An investigation has started into possible contamination of genetically modified pine trees being grown in a field trial ..."
6 November 2003
NEW ZEALAND HERALD

US firm mystery GM ally
"The state-owned Crop & Food research institute has unveiled the mystery collaborator on its genetically modified onions project ..."
5 November 2003
NEW ZEALAND HERALD

Government opens door to GE despite protests, polls and threats
"The moratorium on commercial release of genetically modified organisms ends at midnight tonight with the biotechnology industry hailing it a milestone and opponents threatening sabotage ..."
29 October 2003
NEW ZEALAND HERALD

NZ bread rejected over GM content
"Subway sandwiches made in New Zealand use the same bread dough that has caused an outcry in Japan because it contains a product made using an unauthorised GM organism ..."
27 October 2003
NEW ZEALAND HERALD

Secluded isles face unknown GE risk
"On the eve of the lifting of the GE moratorium, science reporter Simon Collins finds the jury still out on safety. ..."
26 October 2003
NEW ZEALAND HERALD

More than one Maori view on genetic engineering
"A Te Arawa elder has endorsed research aimed at producing a genetically modified pine tree - but Auckland's Ngati Whatua people are not so sure. ..."
26 October 2003
NEW ZEALAND HERALD

GM release a gamble not worth the candle
"The Prime Minister, Helen Clark, consistently characterises her refusal to extend the moratorium on applications for the release of genetically modified organisms into the environment as 'rational' ..."
24 October 2003
NEW ZEALAND HERALD

Thousands unite to send anti-GE message to Government
"Some 9000 protesters marched through the centre of Auckland today to show the Government the groundswell of opinion against genetic engineering ..."
11 October 2003
NEW ZEALAND HERALD

GM: Is it too soon?
"New Zealand opinion has swung heavily against releasing genetically modified organisms into the environment ..."
23 August 2003
NEW ZEALAND HERALD

New GM alert no reason to prolong moratorium says Clark
"The discovery that genetically modified sweetcorn was grown near Gisborne does not mean a moratorium on commercial GM release should be extended, says Prime Minister Helen Clark ..."
8 July 2003
NEW ZEALAND HERALD








GM MORATORIUM EXPIRES 

3 November 2003
The moratorium on the commercial release of genetically modified organisms in New Zealand, that has been in place for the last two years expired on October 29.

Applications for release can now be made to the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA), the agency that decides to introduce new organisms.  The first application since 2000, from state-owned Crop and Food Research, was heard at a public hearing on November 3, for a field trial of a genetically modified onion.  It is tolerant to glyphosphate, an active ingredient in the Monsanto weedkiller Roundup.

GM DEBATE WILL CONTINUE  
Release of Organisms for Crops
Will Meet Strong Public Opposition

Any application to ERMA for the release of GM organisms for crop planting will meet extensive public opposition.  Crop and Food's application attracted a record 1900 submissions.  It does not appear that a backlog of applications have been ready and waiting for the moratorium to be lifted.

The New Zealand government has ignored public opposition to GM, in its determined course to stay competitive in world markets, and to take what it believes to be the only economic path.

Two months before the moratorium was lifted, a nationwide Herald-DigiPol survey showed that 68% of New Zealander's want the ban on releasing GMOs to continue.

In pursuing GM, the government is turning its back on the established "clean and green" New Zealand brand.  Research commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment at Lincoln University reached the conclusion that GM release would significantly depreciate the brand.

Evidence showed that 25% to 37% of consumers in the United States, Britain and Australia will be less likely to purchase New Zealand food products, even if they were GM-free.  About half of these consumers are more likely to buy New Zealand food if GM organisms are not released into the environment.

In a world divided on GM, market definition for GM food products remains on shakey ground.  A rational argument has not been presented to justify abandoning the known "clean green" market, for a fuzzy GM market simply for reasons of greater yield and less production cost of GM products.

The GM issue is creating a greater worldwide consumer awareness of food ingredients. New Zealand is already very well positioned with its clean image, with an opportunity to capture a growing demand for healthy food.

Opposition to GM in New Zealand is mainly for reasons of uncertainty of the effect modified food might have on human health, and impact on the country's historic natural resources.

Potential transfer of genetic material from GM plants to native species, weeds, and organically grown crops is a real concern ...

It is now accepted that horizontal gene transfer (HGT) occurs more frequently than first realised.  This science is in its early stages, and not enough is known to fully understand the potential impact of GM organisms.

If a gene that provides resistance to a herbicide is transferred to an environmental weed, a 'super weed' that is resistant to the herbicide could be produced.  A gene that provides faster or larger growth could also be transferred to existing weeds.

The forestry industry is developing sterile pine trees that produce no seed, and trees without lignin (the element removed to make paper).  It is alarming to think of the genes that produce these characteristics being transferred to native trees such as totara, kahikatea or kauri.

The New Zealand environment has demonstrated an extreme vulnerability, with its optimum growing conditions for introduced organisms that get out of control.  In less time than anywhere else on earth, 20,000 plants have been introduced into the country, so there are now more exotic species growing in the wild than native species.  Natural hybridisation by pollen or bacterial transfer is occurring at a rapid rate.

The risk of devastation of natural ecosystems from super weeds worse than long time pests such as gorse and blackberry, and more recent problem plants like old man's beard or morning glory that cover large forest trees, exceeds any GM production or pest resistence advantage.

Government is acutely aware of the susceptability of the country's ecology, and is prepared to invest in mitigation and research to protect it, except when it comes to introducing GM organisms.

The Royal Commission recommended an emphasis on research on environmental vulnerability, instead of the health impacts of GM.  But while little has yet been accomplished in establishing standards, ERMA is proceeding to make decisions on GM release.

Science has not established the most critical standard, the distance of crop separation.   Opinions vary on the distance bees travel to gather pollen.  The seed certification industry has used distances ranging from 100 metres to 3 kilometres, but bees are known to travel much more than 5 kilometres for pollen.

Biotechnology research is funded with $120 million a year, which includes $20 million for development of GM organisms.  Government funded study of the possible impact of GM on the environment, economy and cultures is a paltry $6.6 million.

In comparison, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is spending $90 million over three years to eradicate the painted apple moth in West Auckland.

Meanwhile, as the government turns a blind eye to the horror stories of financial ruin of non-GM farmers caused by GM pollination in the United States, and British research showing GM damage, ERMA forges blindly ahead promoting the idea of "managing genetic modification in New Zealand", and "making it work".

Meanwhile, debate and opposition will continue.

Wheatfield


..... before it is realised that scientific knowledge of the environmental impact of nonindigenous plants and animals is essential, prior to introducing them?  When rabbits, deer, goats, pigs and possum were introduced into New Zealand's 'edge ecology' in the 19th century, nobody had a clue about the pestilence that would occur.   When stoats were introduced to control rabbits, it was not foreseen that they would flourish, to become the most harmful predator of the world's greatest collection of flightless birds. Again today, the introduction of foreign GM organisms is being allowed, in ignorance of their impact on natural ecosystems that are unique in the world.

New Zealand's food retailers would do well to follow the example of one of their British counterparts, the Co-Op chain, which found from a survey that 80% of its customers would not purchase food containing genetically modified ingredients.  Co-Op has subsequently banned GM products throughout its entire business.
Co-op goes GM-free
BBC NEWS  21 October 2003
The two retail food suppliers that control all New Zealand supermarkets could decide to be GM free, if a majority of customers refuse to shop in stores carrying GM products.

Progressive Enterprises Limited, which is owned by one of Australia's largest public companies Foodlands Associated Ltd, operate Woolworths, Price Chopper, Foodtown, Countdown, FreshChoice and SuperValue supermarkets.

Foodstuffs is New Zealand's largest grocery distributor, and the country's third largest business.  It controls all Pak'N Save, New World, Four Square and Write Price stores.  Foodstuffs announced on November 6 2003 that its Pam's food brand will go GE-free.

Let your food supplier know your view on GM:

Ted van Arkel, Managing Director
Progressive Enterprises Limited
80 Favona Road, Mangere, Auckland
Phone 09 275 2788
Email: ted.vanarkel@progressive.co.nz

Melissa Hodd, Executive Manager
Foodstuffs (NZ) Ltd
Private Bag 5401, Lambton Quay, Wellington
Phone 04 472 6435  Fax 04 472 6412
Email: melissa@foodstuffsnz.co.nz


Photo Credit Above top: Wheat field and Richmond Range, Nelson, permission Virtual New Zealand
Above: Wheat, Ian Britton, Copyright © FreeFoto.com



.....................................................................................

This should be the end for GM
"The Government asked us to heed the science on genetic modification. Will it now take its own advice?"  Guardian Unlimited  19 October 2003

Study links GE crops to environmental damage
"British scientists have delivered a massive blow to the case for genetically engineered crops by showing in a trail-blazing study that growing them could harm the environment ..."
NEW ZEALAND HERALD  17 October 2003
Monsanto shuts UK cereal business
after GM setback

"Monsanto, the world's largest genetically modified seed company, is to close its European cereal business headquarters ..."
The Guardian  16 October 2003
Biopharming reaps fear
"A mysterious farmer at a secret location somewhere in northeastern Colorado is expected to plant a corn crop that must never be eaten by humans or animals, must never come in contact with other crops, and is so volatile, a 1-mile buffer must surround it to prevent pollen from contaminating other crops ..."
DENVER POST  28 September 2003
Most Britons 'oppose GM crops'
"More than half of Britons who took part in a nationwide debate on genetically modified crops said they should never be introduced under any circumstances ..."
BBC NEWS  24 September 2003
Euro vote ends GM food ban
"Laws which will end a European Union-wide ban on new genetically modified foods have been passed by the European Parliament.  The laws allow new GM foods to be sold in Europe for the first time in five years, but only if they are clearly labelled ..."
BBC NEWS  2 July 2003
Bush: Africa hostage to GM fears
"US President George Bush has accused Europe of blocking efforts to fight famine in Africa because of "unfounded" fears over genetically modified foods"
BBC NEWS  22 May 2003
Prodigene woes
"Biopharm firm faces USDA, FDA actions over corn contamination"
Chemical & Engineering News  25 Nov 2002
Famine and the GM debate
"Amid the efforts to cope with a famine threatening 30 million Africans, a row is raging over genetically modified (GM) food aid ..."
BBC NEWS  14 November 2002


Complete identification of GM impact on all crops, and the whole ecology, would be a mammoth and impossible undertaking ...

As Jack Heinemann, the director of Gene Ecology at Canterbury University points out with regard to bacterial transfer, there are two billion bacteria in a gram of soil.  If one in 100 million pick up a genetic element from a plant, it would be necessary to examine genetic structures of hundreds of millions of bacteria to locate it.

Dr Heinemann's reminder of four separate changes to the proteins in streptococcus pneumonia bacteria during the last 50 years, which made it resistant to penicillin, provides a strong incentive to avoid messing with nature, and to consider human health.

Isolated studies that show no GM damage to a few species, such as the HortResearch life-span studies on bees and leaf caterpillars, will be insufficient support for a GM green light.  There are still thousands of species out there.

On the other hand, proven damage in isolated cases should raise scepticism about unknown impact, and cause opposition to grow.



Copyright © 2003 TerraNature Trust. All rights reserved

home l  sponsors l  join - donate l  contact information l  projects l  volunteer activities
about us l  search TerraNature  l  environmental issues  l  New Zealand ecology