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Home / The Country

Listen: Why farmers need GMO options to fight climate change

The Country
12 Sep, 2018 01:00 AM2 mins to read

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Andy Thompson. Photo / File

Andy Thompson. Photo / File

Andy Thompson has read a "fair chunk" of the Productivity Commission report and has found it wanting.

The former West Coast cow cocky was fired up when he spoke to The Country's Jamie Mackay, saying the report is "very, very, very light on innovation and technology."

Mackay suggests Thompson is in good company as outgoing chief science adviser Sir Peter Gluckman agrees with many of his points in a report released yesterday.

Gluckman says it's time for a public debate on the use of GMOs because of the potential of some "super-grasses" to combat greenhouse gas emissions.

Read more: Gluckman report suggests 'farm plans' to tackle agricultural emissions

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Thompson says "New Zealand farmers are being asked to fight it [climate change] with one arm tied behind our back. We are not allowed to use the technology that is going to effectively save the planet."

Listen below:

It seems that nobody is keen to enter into a debate about these super-grasses says Thompson, who has noted that both the Green Party and National seem to have put the issue on the backburner.

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"If New Zealand farmers are being asked to fight climate change we need to be able to debate and look at all of the options," says Thompson.

Discover more

How much could emissions cost farmers?

06 Sep 06:00 PM

Listen: Technology rather than tax to reduce emissions

10 Sep 03:15 AM
New Zealand

Gluckman: Tackle emissions with farm plans

11 Sep 12:00 AM

Dr Jacqueline Rowarth talks forestry and fish

11 Sep 02:45 AM
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