Latest news with #ClaireBleakley
Scoop
27-06-2025
- Science
- Scoop
Farmers Must Be Told The Truth About GE Ryegrass Performance
AgResearch has issued the findings of the first animal feeding study results of genetically engineered High Metabolisable Energy (HME) ryegrass that contains two foreign genes, sesame and rice, show that GE ryegrass is not a viable technical fix. The GE rye grass for this study has not has Environmental Protection Authority approval.[1] The AgResearch $25 million GE rye grass trials conducted from 2017-2022, found that the field trials results did not meet the expected performance end points. The GE rye grass died back when under competition and if the temperature went over 26C, overall, there was a yield penalty. The planned feeding trials to be conducted in 2020 had to be postponed as the GE grass did not generate enough fodder to feed any animals. [2] Information, received under the OIA, from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said they had not approved the grass trial and AgResearch reported that the GE rye grass for the lamb study, GE rye grass for the lamb study, was grown in separate pots in controlled laboratory conditions in the Palmerston North glass house and turned into non-viable dry matter (hay silage) taking 18 months to collect enough to carry out the experiment. [3] [4] The 24 lambs were divided into two groups 12 fed GE rye grass and 12 as controls. They were fed for 11days in special pens to record their emissions. Compared to the controls the methane levels were 7% for the GE rye grass vs 4.4% for the controls.[2] 'How often do farmers feed their lambs dried unviable 18 month hay grown in laboratory glasshouse conditions, never," said Claire Bleakley, president of GE Free NZ. This does not match the successful proven alternatives available today and farmers are being sold a GE failure. Linseed oil added to supplementary feeds have a higher methane reduction rate Multi-species forage is also delivering greater reduction (13%) in emissions than GE trials and research has shown the New Zealand based company growing red seaweed for supplements can reduce methane emissions by 90%. [5] [6] [7] The Gene Technology Bill will allow exempted, unregulated, unmonitored GE trials and release into the environment and the food chain with no safety, accountability or regulatory oversight. The drafting of the Bill did not even consider the poor results and failures of the New Zealand field trials. 'This unapproved study is a waste of money and a misleading farmer promotion for a failed GE experiment,' said Bleakley 'GE rye grass cross contamination will affect performance of the pure non-GE grass seed, once released it cannot be recalled". References: [2] Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, [3] [4] [5] [6]
Scoop
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
NZ Gene Technology Bill Breaches International Convention Directives On Public Right To Know On GMO
Press Release – GE Free NZ The process of writing The Gene Technology Bill and the regulatory system it sets up, contravenes the Aarhus directives in a number of ways. The New Zealand government's Gene Technology Bill is in breach of the directives of the Aarhus Convention to consult the public, allow public participation and ensure access to justice. On April 20, the Aarhus Convention's new GMO directives was passed. The protocol was ratified by 27 of the 35 parties and sets a precedence for international harmonisation on all parties and signatories to the Cartagena Protocol and Aarhus Conventions. [1] Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Astrid Schomaker, clarifies the directives on the procedures for consulting with the public when developing a national biosafety framework. This includes facilitating capacity building programmes with the participation of the public for further developing access to information, public participation and access to justice with respect to genetically engineered/ modified/gene edited (GMOs/GE) organisms. [2] The process of writing The Gene Technology Bill and the regulatory system it sets up, contravenes the Aarhus directives in a number of ways. There has been lack of public and stakeholder participation from the start, which continues to this day. The Bill makes broad exemptions of GE products from regulation and traceability which takes away the right to choose from farmers and consumers. 'The lack of consultation and democratic public participation in writing The Gene Technology Bill goes against everything the directives say is important,' said Claire Bleakley, president of GE Free NZ. 'In light of the international Convention's directives it is clear that the process around The Gene Technology Bill is seriously broken.' The charity organisation Physicians and Scientists for Global Responsibility (PSGR) has written to the Ombudsman to investigate whether the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) officials and the responsible Minister, the Hon Judith Collins directly undermined public law conventions and processes to their benefit in advancing policies and laws in favour of the deregulation of gene editing technology. [3] Also just released is a Parliamentary petition sponsored by Lisa Er calling for people to sign the petition to 'Halt the Bill and set up a Commission of Inquiry.' This is in direct response to the deliberate omission of the public, farmers and businesses in the drafting of the Bill. [4] As a signatory to the Cartagena Protocol the Aarhus Convention guides New Zealand to abide by the directives and set up a Commission of Inquiry on the Gene Technology Bill. [5]
Scoop
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
NZ Gene Technology Bill Breaches International Convention Directives On Public Right To Know On GMO
The New Zealand government's Gene Technology Bill is in breach of the directives of the Aarhus Convention to consult the public, allow public participation and ensure access to justice. On April 20, the Aarhus Convention's new GMO directives was passed. The protocol was ratified by 27 of the 35 parties and sets a precedence for international harmonisation on all parties and signatories to the Cartagena Protocol and Aarhus Conventions. [1] Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Astrid Schomaker, clarifies the directives on the procedures for consulting with the public when developing a national biosafety framework. This includes facilitating capacity building programmes with the participation of the public for further developing access to information, public participation and access to justice with respect to genetically engineered/ modified/gene edited (GMOs/GE) organisms. [2] The process of writing The Gene Technology Bill and the regulatory system it sets up, contravenes the Aarhus directives in a number of ways. There has been lack of public and stakeholder participation from the start, which continues to this day. The Bill makes broad exemptions of GE products from regulation and traceability which takes away the right to choose from farmers and consumers. Advertisement - scroll to continue reading 'The lack of consultation and democratic public participation in writing The Gene Technology Bill goes against everything the directives say is important,' said Claire Bleakley, president of GE Free NZ. 'In light of the international Convention's directives it is clear that the process around The Gene Technology Bill is seriously broken.' The charity organisation Physicians and Scientists for Global Responsibility (PSGR) has written to the Ombudsman to investigate whether the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) officials and the responsible Minister, the Hon Judith Collins directly undermined public law conventions and processes to their benefit in advancing policies and laws in favour of the deregulation of gene editing technology. [3] Also just released is a Parliamentary petition sponsored by Lisa Er calling for people to sign the petition to 'Halt the Bill and set up a Commission of Inquiry.' This is in direct response to the deliberate omission of the public, farmers and businesses in the drafting of the Bill. [4] As a signatory to the Cartagena Protocol the Aarhus Convention guides New Zealand to abide by the directives and set up a Commission of Inquiry on the Gene Technology Bill. [5] References: [2] [3]
