Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Farmers Will Ignore Councils' GE-Free Rulings

Farmers Will Ignore Councils' GE-Free Rulings

Tuesday 3 Aug 2004

Gerry Eckhoff - Press Releases - Rural

ACT New Zealand Rural Affairs Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff today predicted that the vast majority of farmers would ignore any move by regional and district councils to unilaterally declare regions of New Zealand GE-free.

"This, however, does not automatically mean that farmers will take up the opportunity to plant GE-crops.

"Conversely, if a local council decides it knows best, and the planting of such crops are banned, then I expect few farmers will take a blind bit of notice of its ruling if the benefits of GE technology are obvious.

"We appear, yet again, to have a situation where a minority of people are refusing to accept the benefits of scientific research.

"Farmers I have spoken to are sick and tired of being dictated to by self-appointed environmental advocates attempting to tell them how best to manage their businesses and livehoods, both now and into the future," Mr Eckhoff said.

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.