HONESTY

One of the most important principles of any decent society is honesty.

Honesty, and the wellbeing of New Zealanders should always be at the forefront of any decision.

The changes proposed by the gene technology bills are so radically life altering that New Zealanders must be involved in this decision. New Zealanders must know the whole story; who stands to benefit, what the risks are, and where genuine scientific disagreement exists. They must be given the choice.

 This should not be a PR marketing exercise manipulating science for a desired outcome, with financial incentives and misleading information; when the truth is, science does not support it.

Genetic engineering may have a place within controlled laboratory settings, but genetically engineered organisms should never be released into our food systems or the wider environment.

We are not opposed to technological advancement, quite the opposite, but the quality of the product, and how it affects our health, wellbeing and environment should be foundational.

GMOs put at risk something New Zealand has spent generations building: trust in the natural food we produce. Our export advantage is that consumers around the world associate New Zealand with natural, safe, high-quality produce.

International consumer trends are clearly signalling towards GE-free and organic food, not technologically driven GE/GMOs. To give away our already successful trade position is economic suicide.

Once genetically modified crops are released into our environment, we cannot simply undo genetic cross-contamination. Any resulting damage to New Zealand’s brand, our environment, and human health would be irreversible. Producing truly organic food may no longer be possible.

So what is driving these Bills?

New Zealand is lauded across the world for our innovation, our quality, and our clean and green products. We have not been left behind. We are trusted. And like honesty, trust is earned. This is our competitive advantage.

However over the last 35 years government scientists have been backed into a research model that requires industry funding favouring development of patentable, genetically engineered products. These same scientists, AgResearch and other GE crop and GMO product developers now advise the Government to remove constraints on GMO research and release. With no cost benefit analysis conducted by government or industry showing GE crops will be sustainable and financially viable for farmers, and a tendency to over promise benefits – while ignoring the commercial failures; the science simply does not support GMO release on farms, neither does the economics.

To lose our GE Free status is a betrayal. A betrayal of our trust, and a betrayal to our international markets.

Are we ready for that?

We believe it is the right of all New Zealanders to be able to make informed decisions about what they consume.

You have our word that Ge Honesty will always put honesty, integrity and the health of New Zealand above all else.