In a just-published article in the New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, leading researcher and Chief Technical Officer for AgResearch subsidiary Grasslanz Technology, John Caradus, looked at the issue through a global lens to see what the experience of other nations had been.
Proposed legislation in New Zealand is expected to allow greater use of GM and gene editing technology, including in plants; making co-existence critical to the needs of different industries of the primary sector. The issue was repeatedly raised in recent submissions on the Gene Technology Bill before the NZ Parliament.
“We know co-existence is achievable because several other nations have successfully managed it, including nations that are both major producers of GM products and non-GM products, with the latter including products from the organic sector,” Dr Caradus says.
“Organic farmers obviously have a particular interest given GM use is regulated to be zero. Co-existence regulations and guidance have been developed in many countries and can occur with appropriate planning and communication within farming communities. This must be working effectively when you consider that countries with the largest areas devoted to organic agriculture also have amongst the highest land area used for GM crops.”
Genetic modification and gene editing have enabled major gains in the performance of crops globally, and opportunities to enhance pasture plant species are now being tested.
