There can be benefits from controlled use of GE for example in medical research, but there have also been cruel experiments in New Zealand that would be unacceptable to most people. How can we prevent unethical use of gene technology?
What do people support?
Many people support ethical medical research and other uses of gene technology in the lab. These uses include GE insulin and treatments for cancer.
Controlled use of GE can prevent contamination of the environment so people still have a choice for GE-free food and pure honey.
But food security and seed integrity is up against corporate patents and biopiracy, Life itself is being privatised and patented. The biotechnology industry want to remove regulation in order to benefit from IP (Intellectual Property). But this is at the cost of protections for people and the environment.
New Zealand’s GE-Free Zones which were established with community-wide support are now threatened with being abolished under the Gene Technology Bill.
Under the Bill, commercial risks are to be transferred from the companies to the public. Commercial release of GE crops will make GE contamination of farms unstoppable.
… and not support?
Unethical experiments in New Zealand have hit the headlines because of their cruelty to animals.The future could be even worse unless legislation has strict ethical controls on GE.
Previous GE Field trials have been allowed in New Zealand but risked contamination and were shut down.
After years of research into GE ryegrass the results are poor. Worse, the developers admit it would cause widespread contamination.
The good news is there are better non-GE options such as regenerative organic agriculture,
The debate now is about hopes for future benefits such as ideas for pest control and climate action. The past history of GE gives reason to doubt such promises. They haven’t delivered before or in overseas countries. Today strict regulation of GE is even more important, not less, as gene technology merges with A.I., synthetic biology, nanotechnology and computing.
