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State science company Crop and Food Research Ltd has been granted approval to field-test genetically engineered (GE) vegetables and forage brassicas, subject to strict conditions.
The Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) announced the approval today following a public hearing in Christchurch last month.
Crop and Food sought approval to assess the resistance of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and forage kale modified with genes derived from a soil bacterium to caterpillar pests, such as white butterfly and diamond-back moth.
Erma said today it had approved field testing on a 0.4 hectare plot at Lincoln, near Christchurch, over 10 years provided Crop and Food scientists:
* Prevent flowering and pollen release of GE brassicas;
* Ensure all GE plants are removed from site on completion of the research and do not enter the human or animal food chain in any form; and
* Monitor the test site for a year after the last GE plants have been removed to look for any "volunteer" GE plants.
Erma general manager, new organisms, Libby Harrison said the field test was subject to strict controls to ensure the GE brassicas remained contained within the field test site and did not enter the food chain.
- NZPA
