The 10 big questions: A voter's guide to GM

1. What is genetic modification (GM) and how does it differ from genetic engineering (GE)?

GM was defined by last year's Royal Commission on Genetic Modification as "the deletion, changing or moving of genes within an organism, the transfer of genes from one organism to another, the modification of existing genes or the construction of new genes and their incorporation into any organism".

There is effectively no difference between GM and GE. Opponents like to say engineering, which has sinister implications, and supporters choose modification, which sounds slightly more reassuring.

2. Where do the political parties stand?

Labour has adopted a "precautionary" approach, meaning strictly controlled research, labelling of GM food and trying to sense where GM is going internationally so New Zealand won't be too far behind or too far in front. In theory, that's what the moratorium is about, although critics dismiss the delay as a political copout. Either way, it is debatable whether we will know much more about the safety of GM when the moratorium expires in October next year.

National, New Zealand First and United Future generally support the "proceed with caution" approach recommended by the royal commission.

Jim Anderton's Progressive Coalition is likely to back Labour on GM in the next Government, but could jump into the anti-GM camp if it was politically prudent.

The Greens give a blanket "no" to GM in the environment (that is, outside the laboratory) until it is proven safe. That could be decades or months, assuming the scientists let us know the minute they do. The Alliance's policy is very similar.

Act says let the market decide. If farmers think they can sell GM food, it's up to them whether they use the technology - although the party adds the rider "as long as reasonable safety criteria are met".

3. Is GM safe in the laboratory?

All parties say yes, although some want stricter controls. Humankind may benefit most from GM in the area of medicine. However, things get complicated when you start talking about medicines produced from animals, a significant area of GM research.

For example, the Greens oppose experiments being carried out at crown research institute AgResearch whereby human genes were inserted into cows to produce a human protein for research into multiple sclerosis.

4. If the moratorium is lifted, could we soon be eating GM food produced from GM animals?

Dairy giant Fonterra is spending money on research into how GM could be used to produce designer milks. But consumers are sceptical - it was the "toad genes in potatoes" experiment at the Crop & Food Institute at Lincoln University that really kicked off the GM debate in 1999.

5. Is there a risk that GM animals will infect the food chain?

Yes. The commission was very cautious about food-chain animals, such as cows and sheep, being used in transgenic experiments.

6. What about labelling of GM food in the supermarket?

The Greens read the New Zealand consumer dead right. MP Sue Kedgley hounded the Australia and New Zealand Food Authority to make sure it didn't back away from clear labelling of GM products, which food chains said would raise prices.

7. How safe are GM foods already on the shelf?

You are already eating them, and New Zealand's food standards are rigorous by international measures. The Greens argue that the food authority is dominated by the Australians (we have one Health Minister on it to their 10) and that no proper testing is done here. Their opponents say it is ridiculous to suggest that a Government would allow its citizens' health to be endangered by letting producers sell unsafe food.

8. Will GM crops affect other plants?

Extravagant claims are made by both sides. Early this year, reports that all of Mexico's corn was GM-contaminated hit the headlines. They were apparently discredited, then revived. Giant food corporates claim GM crops will solve world hunger. But the royal commission paid close attention to the need for buffer zones between GM and non-GM crops and acknowledged a danger of cross-contamination.

9. Should crops be genetically modified to protect against pests?

The process works by inserting a gene from a soil bacterium, Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), into the plant, which then expresses a toxin.

When the insect eats the plant, the toxin kills the insect. The big worry is that insects will develop a resistance, which would seriously affect pest control. For instance, the spray used to try to eradicate the painted apple moth in West Auckland contains just such a bacterium.

10. Should we leave GM alone until we are sure it's safe?

Yes, according to opponents like actor Sam Neil, who spoke at Wednesday's launch of the new pro-moratorium Sustainability Council of New Zealand. Neill said he took no comfort from scientific assurances - 40 years ago the public were told the same things about DDT and 2,4,5-T.

Pro-GM groups reply that the history of science and human progress is full of such excessive caution. Hundreds of years ago, they say, many refused to eat a strange new fruit-vegetable mutant known as the tomato.

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