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Tearless onions are at the centre of the latest battle over genetic modification, as opponents try to stop an engineered vegetable trial going ahead.
A hearing was held in Christchurch yesterday, amid heavy security, to consider a bid by Crop and Food Research to carry out a 10-year, 2.5ha field trial of genetically modified onions, shallots, leek and garlic.
The vegetables have been altered to improve the likes of flavour, health benefits and pest resistance - and in the case of one line of onions promoted by Crop and Food, a variety that does not cause a person to cry while cutting into it.
Other GM trials near Christchurch have been the subject of sabotage in the past, and opponents say this latest proposal poses too much risk to the environment and New Zealand's reputation.
"There are few public benefits, with risks distributed unfairly," said lobby group, GE Free New Zealand.
"The risks of creeping damage to New Zealand's clean, green natural reputation in food are real."
While the cost of any environmental damage would fall on the public, "the limited value of the research largely benefits a small group of investor-scientists."
But Crop and Food said the trial promised major benefits in food production and would keep New Zealand up with the world on science.
A fifth of the world's crop market was now developed through genetic modification, said Dr Colin Eady.
While some GM work could be done in the laboratory or glasshouse, it was important to also test the crops out in the open, such as in the field trial proposed.
Federated Farmers raised concerns about the spread of pollen from the flowering GM vegetables to other plants and wildlife, but Dr Eady said the vegetables would be contained in mesh cages to stop even insects getting in.
The risk of cross-pollination by wind was "highly improbable".
At least five police officers and five private security guards were stationed at the hearing yesterday.
The Environmental Risk Management Authority, which ran the hearing, said it had asked police to be there because of past incidents, such as whistle-blowing protesters interrupting a hearing last year.
The committee will make its decision on whether to allow the trial within 30 working days.
