It is not. The trial was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency following rigorous review of all aspects of the science - including submissions from opponents of GM - and an assessment of the benefits and risks. The trial is monitored by the now Ministry for Primary Industries.
Neither agency would sanction research posing unacceptable risk to New Zealand's prized biosecurity status and, as a responsible research organisation, Scion would not undertake research that did. In carrying out the research, Scion must follow strict controls and Ministry for Primary Industries staff regularly monitor Scion's compliance to these.
This is a conspiracy with big US business
It is not. The research programme has been in place at Scion for more than a decade, funded through New Zealand government grants won through open contest. The current field trial is similarly funded.
The vandals caused about $1 million of damage, including lost time. For GM opponents to suggest this was Scion's fault and wasteful of taxpayer money is scandalous.
We cannot, and should not, do this research in another country, although we are, of course, drawing on more than 50 years of work on GM technology worldwide, under both research and commercial farming conditions, to help us do this efficiently.
This is not in New Zealand's economic interest
The forest industry strongly supports this research because of the high economic and environmental benefits of GM technology. New Zealand's bio-based economy and environmental challenges with water, dependence on imported nutrients, invasive pests and exotic diseases, means it has more potential to gain from GM technology than most countries.
For the same reason, rigorous assessment of all risks is required before releasing GM trees commercially. Recent Otago University research did not identify a premium for GE-free produce from New Zealand. Food safety and quality are far more important determinants of demand for our exports.
Besides, GM forestry products would not enter any human food chain.
Scion should have installed more security
The vandals broke through three fences - the last being a 2-metre, electrified, purpose-designed security barrier, with mesh wire buried a metre into the ground. The site was patrolled up to three times every 24 hours by a security firm.
For all reasonable purposes, the security was more than adequate. As one national newspaper commented: "The greatest environmental threat posed by the field trial of genetically modified pine trees at Rotorua was not the test itself, but the actions of those who risked the spread of GM material by breaking in and destroying the crop."
Scion will not be deterred by those who put themselves above the law, lack the decency to respect years of careful work by dedicated scientists or protest by non-democratic means. We will establish new plantings this winter.
We will also take advice from security experts and the police to further improve detection and surveillance at the trial site.
- Warren Parker is the chief executive of Scion crown forestry research institute, however, the views expressed in this article are his views and not necessarily official company policy.
