Newstalk ZB
Industry observers are warning New Zealand could fall behind many of its trading partners, as National’s plans to loosen gene technology rules and “harness biotechnology” continue to stall. The Government introduced a bill in 2024 seeking to end the 30-year hardline ban on the use of genetic technology outside of a laboratory environment, with the aim of passing the legislation by the end of 2025. But, while the select committee process wrapped up in October last year, it’s unclear if the controversial Bill will be passed before November’s election. Some proponents fear New Zealand’s indecision could stifle innovation, lower our competitiveness, and leave us falling behind other countries. Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Penny Simmonds said negotiations and subsequent policy changes are ongoing and there was nothing new to add. Bioeconomy Science Institute general manager for new cultivar innovation Zac Hanley said it feels like New Zealand is being left behind or that we will have to do a lot of work to catch up. He said primary sector industries around the world are looking at the potential products and opportunities arising from genetic technology when appropriate safeguards are in place. Hanley said the tech could reduce our reliance on chemical sprays, allow us to grow more resilient crops able to withstand a changing climate, and export more innovation to support our economy. But he said without the legislation in place, we are watching other countries move ahead while we can’t ourselves. Almost 15,000 submissions were received during the select committee process, with many opponents raising concerns about potential implications for the environment, trade and te Ao Māori. National’s coalition partners supported the law change at first reading but are opposing it in current form. Act has taken issue with the inclusion of a Māori Advisory Committee, while New Zealand First has cited concerns about health, protection and environmental safety, as well as the possibility of us trading away a market advantage. University of Otago Professor of Economics Murat Üngör said there are competing views on potential trade impacts. He said, on the one hand, New Zealand products have a good reputation due to our “clean and green” brand association, so some opponents fear reform would confuse or create distrust among consumers in premium markets. On the other hand, he said, lagging behind could equally paint us as a country stuck in the past, hurting our status as a high-value, innovative producer. Üngör said many of our trading partners are already moving toward less regulation so we need to be proactive. While New Zealand has some of the tightest gene editing regulations in the world, Australia, Canada and the US have close to no restrictions, and the European Union and the UK are moving to ease their rules. Üngör said scientists and businesses in those countries will find it a lot easier to carry out research and produce products. He said we could become a global outlier and potentially face technical barriers that impact our ability to trade. Üngör said there is also a risk that our agricultural exports will become less competitive, and we will go from developing our own products to importing them from somewhere else. He said if we are not the ones developing or field-testing new climate-resilient, pest-resistant or higher-yield crops, this innovation will simply happen elsewhere.
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