NZ farm up for GE

A Canterbury farmer who has listed 201ha of land at Rangiora on an international database of land for growing high-value GE crops says the price he charges will depend on the crop.

"New Zealand is very sensitive to all plant testing at present," the sheep and beef farmer said.

The charge would partly depend on containment requirements.

The internet database, MolecularFarming.com, started listing potential growing sites after project manager Brian Marshall advertised a year ago from Ireland.

The website matches farmers with land and expertise with pharmaceutical companies planning to grow crops or animals engineered to contain antibodies or proteins of potential medical use.

The farmer said his Rangiora land was in pasture, grazing sheep and cattle, and the pasture comprised perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, native pastures, clovers, chicory, birdseed trefoil and lucerne. The farm, 100m above sea level, could be irrigated.

No GE plants have been approved for commercial release in New Zealand, but the Government plans to lift its moratorium on such applications after October.

- NZPA

Herald Feature: Genetic Engineering