Genetic Modification (GM) also referred to as Modern Biotechnology, is being researched, promoted or utilised in numerous countries throughout the world. Acceptance is at a variety of levels, with many affluent countries having strong political and consumer resistance. Genetically modified crops for pest and or herbicide resistance have now been grown for 12 years and the exploration of the use of animals to produce biopharmaceuticals has resulted in the approval of the first beneficial drug for humans.
In New Zealand researchers have been investigating GM in plants and animals for over twenty years; most of this has been in the laboratory but recorded applications for field testing in controlled situations have been approved during this period. The Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) approves any work involving GM and in the last ten years higher profile approvals have been for the field testing of GM sheep, cows, brassica, onions and trees. All this work is untertaken in Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) approved and supervised Facilities. Each application in recent years has normally been challenged by New Zealanders who do not want this type of research carried out for a variety of reasons.
The purpose of this project is to explore what New Zealand Farmers think about GM and whether they would consider using, or accept others using, GM plants or animals if they were approved for release into the New Zealand environment. Releasing a GM organism is an application process which no one working with GM has contemplated undertaking at this time.
Previous research projects have explored this subject or more specific aspects such as Biopharming, generally providing scenarios and then asking opinions relative to the scenario given. It is my view that the scenarios as presented are rather different from what is likely to occur if the type of programs they portray proceed. Also talking with farmers and others provided a more positive view of GM than the results these research projects portrayed.
A questionnaire was decided on to accurately capture the information in a consistent and usable form as discussion at field days or events was often unstructured. Email was used to distribute the link to questions as widely as possible.
A pre-test questionnaire received a good response and returned a generally positive response, with the proviso that consumer view was important to be considered.
The main questionnaire had a very poor response rate and the resulting view aligned with that portrayed by previous polls of farmers and the wider population, mainly negative, but more acceptant of environmental or Human medical or nutritional benefits. Combining the results gives a much higher general acceptance but it is still difficult to define a clear position.
Realistically it is likely it will be some time before genetic modification moves out of controlled facilities or situations in New Zealand.
This will provide ample time for in my view the required more open discussion, question answering and wider distribution in lay language, of information surrounding GM. It is still relatively unknown what could be realistically achieved if possible modifications are successful.
Tim Hale, Timothy
