Gluckman wants new debate on GM in NZ

AUCKLAND: It is time for New Zealand to restart the debate on genetic modification, the Prime Minister’s former science adviser Sir Peter Gluckman says.

But the Government says there are no plans to change New Zealand’s cautious approach to genetic modification, and any changes are many years away.

Marking the end of his nineyear stint as chief science adviser, Sir Peter said the science had shown genetic modification was safe.

‘‘The science is as settled as it will be,’’ Sir Peter told TVNZ’s Q + A yesterday.

‘‘That is, it’s safe, that there are no significant ecological or health concerns associated with the use of advanced genetic technologies.’’

That did not mean New Zealand society would automatically accept these technologies, he said.

‘‘And what we need is a conversation which we’ve not had in a long time, and it needs to be, I think, more constructive and less polarised than in the past.

It has been nearly 20 years since genetic engineering was last debated at a national level. It has since been used in research and in some medicines, but no fresh produce has been made using genetic methods.

Sir Peter listed some of the areas where genetic modification could be used.

‘‘We’re facing issues of biosecurity. We’re facing issues of predators and the desire to be predatorfree.

‘‘We’re facing the fact that our farming system needs to change because of the environmental impact of the greenhouse gas emissions, the water quality issues, et cetera.

‘‘We are, fundamentally, a biologicallybased economy’’. Environment Minister David Parker said there were no plans to change the existing regime. ‘‘The first area where New Zealand may choose to consider these technologies may be pest control but that is many years away. ’’

Genetic modification or engineering has been touted as a possible option for wiping out entire species of pests in New Zealand.

However, Labour’s confidence and supply partner the Green Party is against the use of gene testing for pest control.

Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage, a Green MP, has forbidden the use of genetic modification or geneediting as part of the goal to wipe out predators by 2050.