Suspect seed planted in extra 94 fields

By KEVIN TAYLOR political reporter

The seed that sparked a genetically modified sweetcorn scare at four Gisborne fields was planted in another 94 fields in the North and South Islands and harvested for human and animal consumption.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry revealed yesterday that a total of 98 fields covering 775ha - 16 in Gisborne, 74 in Marlborough and four in Canterbury - were planted last spring using the suspect seed.

All were harvested and the fields have either been grazed since or planted in winter grasses. Some are about to be replanted with maize or sweetcorn.

But MAF and the New Zealand Food Safety Authority say the GM variety involved, Bt11, is not a risk as it is cleared for human consumption in New Zealand and the level of contamination was very low.

Last month, MAF said Sunrise Coast NZ, which planted the seed in the original four fields, had alerted it to GM-positive tests done in Japan by a pizza-maker on a topping mix containing the sweetcorn.

Subsequent MAF testing showed very low levels of Bt11, a GM sweetcorn variety engineered for herbicide resistance and to release a toxin deadly to moth and butterfly larvae.

Barry O'Neil, MAF group director of biosecurity, said yesterday it was still possible that contamination of the original fields came from the imported seed, which had been tested and passed as free of GM.

Other possible contamination sources - from neighbouring fields and the company's harvesting and processing - had been ruled out.

Corn from three of the four original fields showed Bt11, he said.

But MAF also discovered that another sweetcorn variety contaminated with GM material was found in one field in concentrations so small it could not be identified.

Mr O'Neil said there was a real possibility that could also be Bt11.

He said none of the 94 other fields planted from the same seedlot had been tested as investigations had determined it was a "Bt11 event" and the variety was cleared for consumption in New Zealand.

Testing was also expensive - $50,000 so far - and MAF saw no need for further tests.

He could not say if the rate of contamination in the original fields - three out of four - was reflected in the other 94 fields because they were not tested.

Mr O'Neil said expert advice was that there was an extremely low risk of residual seed germinating to produce viable sweetcorn in those fields, due to the post-harvesting systems used and the fact that the crop was harvested when the kernels were immature.

Import standards would be reviewed, he said, but the testing regime was already at the limits of current technology.

"However, we will revisit whether or not there's any need for additional measures either in the exporting country or on arrival in New Zealand that could give us a greater protection in light of the results of the investigation."

A report should be made to the Government next week.

Mr O'Neil said nobody had broken any laws as a result of the contamination.

Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons was worried that so many fields had been planted with the seeds but said it was still worth trying to protect New Zealand's GM-free status.

"My belief is that it's been happening for years. Until 2001, despite my having raised the issue a number of times, nothing was tested - not even when it came into the country," she said.

"Obviously seed has come in over a number of years with a very low level of contamination because the testing we have done since has picked it up a number of times at or around the level of detection."

Ms Fitzsimons said the only thing that could be done was to maintain zero tolerance towards GM. She did not advocate banning seed from GM countries, but said New Zealand should investigate new seed lines from non-GM countries.

Spreading seeds

* MAF has discovered a seedlot that caused last month's GM contamination scare at four Gisborne fields was planted in 94 other fields in Gisborne, Marlborough and Canterbury, covering a total of 775ha.

* Bt11 sweetcorn is a GM variety grown overseas and approved for consumption - but not growing - in New Zealand. It is engineered for herbicide resistance and releases a toxin that kills moth and butterfly larvae.

* MAF says no individual or company involved broke the law.

* The ministry and other agencies will report to the Government next week on options to toughen import standards, but authorities say that tougher rules will not stop more scares.