Green Party should check its facts

The Green Party should check what it thinks are the facts before it starts quoting the statements of people who do not share its philosophy on gene technology, the Director of the University of California Biotechnology programme, Professor Martina Newell-McGloughlin, said today.

“I am offended that New Zealand Green Party politicians should quote me incorrectly and selectively about bio-pharming.

“I am not opposed to bio-pharming - provided appropriate controls are put in place. What the Green Party co-leader failed to do was correctly report the context within which I made my statements during a presentation at the US Embassy today. As a result she seriously misrepresented what I said and tried to put words in my mouth.

“I believe bio-pharming has much to offer provided it is contained within an appropriate framework of controls on what type of crops are used and where they are used.

“To translate that into a general objection to bio-pharming is a serious misrepresentation and mischievous in its intent.

“I call on the Green Party leader to withdraw the statement which misrepresented what I said,” concluded Professor Newell-McGloughlin.

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