Adopt GE or fall behind: Feds
New Zealand could fall behind its agricultural competitors if it does not adopt genetic engineering (GE) of plants and livestock.
Federated Farmers national president Katie Milne said although New Zealand had always been a leader in rural production, that didn’t mean it would stay there.
‘‘If our competitors are going to be able to use GE and we are not, we risk falling behind everyone else,’’ she said.
‘‘Others have looked to what New Zealand is doing and what they can adopt to help their farmers.
‘‘They are creeping up on us and a couple have superseded us due to low grain prices. We are not the lowest-cost producer we once were.
‘‘GE is effectively selective breeding, which is an old technology we all use to improve the productivity of our cows, plants etc. Being able to speed this up would help keep us competitive. There are already countries that use this technology.’’
Milne said Agresearch had developed grasses using GE with higher metabolised energy, meaning they were more efficient for sheep or cattle to eat. These
were being trialled overseas.
Animals could eat less for the same live weight gain; grasses contained a high metabolisable energy system giving them a 20 per cent increase in photosynthesis – and in-vitro rumen investigations had measured a 15-23 per cent decrease in methane production.
‘‘Which means less methane and nitrogen out the back which in turn means there is more efficiency with lowering greenhouse gases,’’ Milne said.
‘‘These plants are more efficient with water so they are more drought tolerant and use less water in their life cycle.’’
Federated Farmers was supportive
of the discussion paper released by the Royal Society Te Aparangi that aimed to continue a national conversation about the use of gene editing in primary industry.
The paper said it believed now was a good time for New Zealanders to consider what these technologies could offer.