AgResearch Vision Won't Fit With Clean Green NZ

AgResearch Vision Won't Fit with Clean Green New Zealand

The proposals made by AgReseach for New Zealand to become a 'GE-animal farm' for chemicals are a threat to New Zealand's clean green natural image, and national identity.

There are alternative uses of genetics that AgResearch should focus on. To protect the country's reputation for clean natural food they need to comply with a biotechnology strategy that respects our uniqueness and shared values.

"This is the extreme science of Pharmaceutical Animals and damages our Brand image. There has to be a middle path that uses gene technology without unethical or cruel uses of animals," says Jon Carapiet from GE Free NZ in food and environment."This isn't it."

The new applications to ERMA appear like a frenzy of mad scientist dreams for transforming New Zealand into a biotechnology playground. But forcing that vision will be a marketing disaster and undermine our economy.

The economy relies on an existing vision of New Zealand defined by people at home and overseas as clean, green and natural. What is needed is ethical science and commercial projects to fit that.

AgResearch must come up with ideas that protect what consumers around the world most value about products from New Zealand. They propose genetically engineering animals so they can all be made into creatures that lay pharmaceutical 'golden eggs'. In the process they will kill the 'goose' that is already laying, and that New Zealanders most treasure.

ENDS

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