There is no doubt that New Zealand is a biodiverse-exporting nation. The agricultural sector accounts for some 66% of New Zealand’s export earnings The international marketplace is both highly restrictive and competitive, and our competitors are gaining on our competitive advantage annually.
Biotechnology has the potential to offer New Zealand, and in particular the primary sector considerable opportunities.
Biotechnology is a set of precise and powerful set of tools, which is often misunderstood. It is the precision and control, of these tools, and the manipulation of genes that excite scientists. It is also this same excitement that concerns some. However there is no evidence to date that the technology is harmful.
Various surveys around the world have measured various acceptance of biotechnology, ranging from acceptance on a case-by-case basis to total rejection. Consumer attitude to acceptance of biotechnology often stems back to deep personal values. There is evidence that the more people are educated, are informed and have contact with biotechnology, the more accepting they are of it.
The consumers, generally distrusts, organisations, that are perceived to have vested interests in biotechnology, to a point that they expect to be exploited. Believing that organisations overstate the benefits and understate the risks.
The public needs to take responsibility themselves, to ensure to the best of their ability information they are exposed to is from substantiated researched evidence.
Organisations need to involve the public in the debate and submission system, this will lead it improved trust. . Trust is very easily lost but harder to build.
New Zealand has through the Environmental and Risk Management Authority, one of the strongest regulatory bodies in the world. With improvements made from recommendation from the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification outcome, gives rigorous assessment for application approval.
The Environmental and Risk Management Authority should be independent, transparent and well funded to achieve the most effective outcomes, for New Zealand’s best interest. The Environmental and Risk Management Authority should earn the right from the public to be trusted and not assume it has public trust of right.
New Zealand’s high values give it a unique opportunity to continue to be world leaders, as a competitive global marketeer.
Paradise then becomes an individual perception.
Murray Jagger
