Crazy
OPINION: Your canine crusader was truly impressed by the almost unanimous support given by politicians of all stripes in Parliament to the recent passing of legislation for the NZ/EU free trade deal.
The Soil & Health Association says that New Zealand won’t need a loosening of regulations around gene editing (GE) and genetic modification (GM) or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to combat climate change.
Instead, the organisation says the country needs significant investment in organic, regenerative agriculture.
The comments come in the aftermath of the National Party’s announcement that, if it is elected in October, it will reverse the ban on gene editing.
National Party Science, Innovation, and Technology spokesperson Judith Collins says the move would unlock significant benefits for climate change, agriculture, and health science.
“New Zealand can be a world leader in reducing agricultural emissions and benefit from other innovations in health, nutrition, and the environment with gene technology rules that are fit-for-purpose,” Collins says.
However, Soil & Health Association chair Jenny Lux says the country’s GMO-free and GE-free stance is a major point of difference in the world market.
“We already have an advantage in being an island nation in the South Pacific, and need to be really careful about any uncontrolled releases of GMOs into the outdoors,” she says.
“Our products are attractive to overseas buyers because they’re seen as clean, safe, natural and uncontaminated. Once we release GMOs, there’s no containing them. We need to continue to safeguard our environment and our brand.”
Lux says that agricultural solutions to lower greenhouse gas emissions, such as reducing or eliminating synthetic nitrogen fertilisers, have not been implemented at scale.
She says GE hasn’t lived up to the hype so far, claiming that a $25 million New Zealand GE ryegrass trial has not yet yielded more dry matter than traditionally bred ryegrass.
“It’s already been demonstrated that diverse, mixed species pastures reduce ruminant methane emissions, and are more resilient to climate extremes,” Lux says. “Organic regenerative farming methods are free for all farmers to adopt, and, unsurprisingly, they’re not under any patents.”
Both Lux and the Soil & Health Association are urging all political parties not to loosen regulations on gene editing and genetic modification in New Zealand.
Instead, they want direct attention and funding focused on expanding organic farming.
“We need research centres dedicated to organic, regenerative agriculture and farmer extension programmes to build that knowledge in rural communities,” says Lux.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
OPINION: This old mutt well remembers the wailing, whining and gnashing of teeth by former West Coast MP and Labour…
OPINION: Your canine crusader gets a little fed up with the some in media, union hacks, opposition politicians and hard-core…