Pasture biotechnology: Breeding for a better future

AgResearch is working with partners to use genetic modification and gene editing technologies to enhance pasture that forms the foundation of our livestock farming industries in New Zealand.

Background

Genetic technologies such as genetic modification (GM) and gene editing (GEd) have been the subject of debate for decades, but more recently there have been calls for changes to regulation to allow greater use in New Zealand. At the end of 2024, the Government introduced the Gene Technology Bill(external link) to Parliament, which is intended to establish a new regulatory regime for gene technology and genetically modified organisms in New Zealand. Submissions on the Bill are due to be heard by Parliament’s Health Select Committee in the early part of 2025, before voting on it to become law.

AgResearch is working with partners to use genetic modification and gene editing technologies to enhance pasture that forms the foundation of our livestock farming industries in New Zealand.

Genetic technologies explained

How it works

Genetic modification is processes in which the DNA of an organism such as a plant or animal is modified by in vitro (lab) techniques. These modifications involve new/foreign DNA being added to the organism.

Gene editing refers to techniques that more precisely change the DNA at a targeted site or sites. These changes can mimic those that may occur naturally. The editing may include deleting or “switching off” genes and does not necessarily require the addition of new/foreign DNA.

Gene editing and genetic modification technologies can be used to change the DNA of a living organism, such as a plant or animal, through either inserting, replacing, or deleting genetic material. Opportunities from these technologies include greater farm productivity, better animal health and improved environmental results that may include reduced greenhouse gas emissions and less nitrogen loss that can have the potential to contaminate waterways. Work is underway to understand the potential benefits of these technologies and to ensure that those benefits outweigh any potential risks.

Into the future

The work AgResearch is doing with commercial partners includes the modification of ryegrass and white clover by introducing genes from other plants. The High Metabolisable Energy (HME) ryegrass – with increased fat content – is seen as having potential to reduce methane emissions from livestock by more than 10 per cent; as does the High-Condensed Tannins White Clover, which is also expected to reduce the incidence of bloat in livestock, a condition that can result in serious harm or death.

In another programme using these technologies, endophytes (fungi) that live inside ryegrass are being gene-edited to maximise their ability to deter insect pests, while also reducing the toxicity they can sometimes cause in animals feeding on the endophyte-containing ryegrass. Ryegrass containing these gene edited endophytes is now being grown in outdoor trials in Australia, as is the High-Condensed Tannins White Clover.