.by Caitlin Nobescaitlin.nobes@hbtoday.co.nz
A Bay businessman hopes local councils will take steps to reduce the risk of genetically modified plants contaminating local crops.
Hastings grower John Bostock said many people thought contamination was only an issue for organic growers, but conventional farmers could suffer too and the risk went up as GM crops were grown outside.
"This is not an issue councils or food producers can afford to ignore," he said. "It is a critical issue to get right if we are to protect the many food producers that sustain the region's prosperity."
J M Bostock surveyed council candidates about their knowledge and opinion on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the region.
It excluded laboratory research into agricultural and medical applications of GMOs from the issue.
Hawke's Bay was classified as a GM free food producer, but that could change if outdoor GMO use began in the region, Mr Bostock said.
The main risks were from research facilities where plants started growing outside the approved area, as happened at a Plant and Food facility in Canterbury in 2008.
Seeds imported from the United States or South America also carried risks if they were not thoroughly checked, because those parts of the world had high rates of GM crops.
Councils could choose to regulate GMO use if they chose. Of the candidates that responded, most said they would support the council looking into whether it should manage GMOs being used outdoors. Almost all of those responding would also vote for measures to protect Hawke's Bay's current status as a GM free food producer.
"A GMO release will negatively affect all growers, as our safe and green brand would undoubtedly be tarnished," Mr Bostock said. "In NZ, with our high costs, we need to preserve all our competitive advantages, including our GE Free status."
He said GMO in the region had seemed a distant reality but there were new pressures to test experimental GM varieties.
"The people of Hawke's Bay are the ones who ultimately bear the risk, so their approval should also be required for any GM food production," said True Earth owner Scott Lawson, who was pleased with the strong support from many candidates.
"It needs to be community driven and that's where local government can help."
The full survey can be read here
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