Organic farming group in priase of council

The Whangarei District Council is being praised by a group promoting organic farming for its "refreshing view of democracy" over its approach to genetically modified organisms.
The council recently voted to jointly fund community consultation, along with Rodney District and Waitakere City councils, to gauge support for regulation of genetically modified organism (GMO) land use and the level of GMO risk communities will tolerate. Other Northland councils are expected to join them.
The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand, which promotes safe food and organic and sustainable farming, has praised the council for its approach to the contentious issue.
Association spokesman Steffan Browning said the Whangarei District Council has a refreshing view of democracy compared to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
"The association commends the Whangarei District Council's democratic and precautionary approach to GMO land use and challenges other councils throughout NZ to follow suit," Mr Browning said.
"With 75 percent of New Zealanders polled last year supporting GE-free food production and zero contamination tolerance, the council's democratic approach flies in the face of this week's WTO decision to override European Union (EU) citizen-driven regulations against GE food imports.
"Kiwi solidarity can maintain a GE-free environment in the same way we have no nukes."
The WTO last week condemned the EU for holding out against genetically modified foods and crops with a landmark decision that could change the future of farming.
The WTO ruled that the EU applied a moratorium on approving genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in violation of trade rules.
Mr Browning said the Danish had led the EU charge against GMOs with a polluter pays tax regime on any GMO producers, to compensate other producers economically impacted by GE contamination.
"New Zealand could follow, with councils insisting on effective bonds should GE applications ever be pushed through. Potential GMO producers may reconsider when faced with carrying their own risk, and NZ organic and GE-free growers must be granted the protection their communities demand," he said.
Mr Browning said the key was that the council listened to the consultation and acted on what the public wanted.
The community consultation was recommended in a report on the risks of GMOs commissioned by councils in Northland, Rodney and Waitakere.
The report - Community Management of GMOs II: Risks and Response Options - found Northland's billion-dollar-a-year farming and tourism industries could be at risk if GMO releases were not controlled.
It also said the risk of environmental and economic damage from GMOs was very real in Northland.
The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand Inc was founded in 1941 by Dr Guy Chapman and a founding committee of New Zealanders concerned at the poor state of national nutrition due to the low priority given to sustainable, organic farming and growing practices.