Posted on 6-3-2003

Govt Should Fund Organics

Dr Martina Newell-McGloughlin of Davis pharmaceuticals recently hosted by
the US embassy told of the effects of the green revolution having resulted
in denuded and nutritionally depleted foods due to chemical pesticides,
herbicides and radiation techniques. All these techniques have now so
degraded our food supply that additives are becoming essential to ensure
our nutritional needs are met. This recognition by a leading researcher is
insightful. GE FREE NZ believes that GE solutions will further exacerbate
these problems, despite claims that GE will be used to boost nutrients.

Claire Bleakley of GE Free (NZ) said " Safe and sustainable agricultural
solutions such as integrated pest management (IPM) and organic farming
options need research funding, especially for New Zealand, and the
opportunity for its clean green image uncontaminated by GMO's. Scientists
are recommending that these proven methods should be funded yet government
is not listening."

Entitled "Biotechnology: Promise or Peril?", Dr Martina Newell-McGloughlin
of spoke of GE work her company was undertaking, advocating the need to
eat safe nutritional food to stay healthy, she alluded to seed production
processes eg.radiation as well as chemical overuse having destroyed
minerals and vitamins in natural healthy food, yet overlooked organic
growing as a means of ensuring adequate quantities.

She admitted that there had been no safety tests considering the health
implications or pathogens created by the GE process. When questioned over
the "pharming " of vaccines in crops she said that "Even one seed in 10,000
was too large a risk if it got into the food chain, discussing also the
problem of gene spread, recognising that pollen would outcross easily and
be uncontrollable. GE "pharmplants" should be grown in "covered containment
facilities" she said.

This concern is ironic given a Rangiora farmers statement that he intends
to offer his land for Pharming experiments. "Although this was an industry
talk to promote her company in NZ," said Claire Bleakley of GE Free NZ in
Food and Environment, "the speaker revealed the urgent need for greater
informed debate on the benefits and risks to the New Zealand environment
and its economy ". "The NSW government are joining Tasmania and other
states moving to ban commercial GE food crops for three to five years . Why
is New Zealand going in the opposite direction?"

Media Contact Claire Bleakley 06 3089842 Jon Carapiet 09 815 3370