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National says that, should it be elected to government in October, it will seek to end New Zealand’s ban on gene editing (GE) and genetic modification (GM).
The party’s Science, Innovation, and Technology spokesperson, Judith Collins, says the move would unlock major benefits for climate change, agriculture, and health science.
“New Zealand can be a world leader in reducing agricultural emissions and benefit from other innovations in health, nutrition, and the environment with gene technology rules that are fit-for-purpose,” Collins says.
Collins says GE and GM technologies have been used in Kiwi labs since the 1970s, but restrictive rules, drafted in the 1990s have made research outside the lab “all but impossible”.
“This means our scientists must head overseas to conduct further research,” she says.
She says that a National government would make the country’s biotechnology rules fit for purpose so New Zealand can benefit from advances in gene technology.
“Like Australia, National will introduce a biotechnology regulator to make evidence-based decisions following public feedback,” Collins says.
The regulator’s role would be to protect both human health and the natural environment while managing ethical concerns and allowing Kiwis to access the benefits of advanced biotechnology.
“New Zealand has already created genetically modified grasses in labs which would significantly reduce our agricultural emissions, but our restrictive, outdated rules currently mean no GE crops can be grown in New Zealand,” Collins says. “GE crops can also be used to resist pests without the use of pesticides, keeping waterways clean.”
“New Zealand is at risk of being left behind with Australia and most of the European Union having safely embraced gene technology. A National government will enable New Zealand to responsibly open access to the benefits of gene technology.”
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