GE Free Future

Please make a submission against plans for a 25-year field trial of Genetically Engineered Pine Trees.

Use the points below to help your individual submission to ERMA. 

DEADLINE: 6th October 2010
Email to: gmpines@ermanz.govt.nz  
Or post to: GM Pines Submissions, ERMA New Zealand, PO Box 131, Wellington

Scion’s GE Trees Application
Submission on Application ERMA200479: To field test in containment Pinus radiata with genetic modifications to alter plant growth/biomass acquisition, reproductive development, herbicide tolerance, biomass utilisation, wood density and wood dimensional stability.  http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/find/WebResults.aspx?search=erma200479
Applicant:  New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited, Rotorua, trading as Scion.


Name of submitter:

Contact address:

(Please indicate):  I wish to be heard / I do not wish to be heard in support of submission.

I oppose approval of this application. The risk to New Zealand's environment and national interest are unacceptable.

1)  This application is a threat to New Zealand's economic wellbeing. New Zealand’s Pinus radiata forests have been developed for over 150 years and damage from GE trees could significantly harm the NZ environment, employment & exports. Any damage to the forestry industry as a result of potential adverse effects of using Scion’s GE or terminator technology could be substantial.There are export and economic benefits to New Zealand in international certification, e.g. Forest Stewardship Council standards for sustainable timber standards which ban GE trees. The economic advantage of the clean green 100% Pure brand for New Zealand trade is recognized by government and needs enhancement for authenticity, not diluting with GE contamination.

2)  Scion's assessment of risk of pollen spread fails to recognize the seriousness of the risk. Based on Scion’s past record of previous issues of non-compliance at Scion’s Rotorua GE field trial site, inevitable human error or sloppiness, and the unpredictability of GE organisms, this risk is real, high and a compelling reason to decline the application. Pollen-producing structures have previously been identified on badly managed GE tree seedlings at Scion’s Rotorua site. The GE experiments will alter tree's growth patterns in totally unforeseen ways that could allow pollen release. Viable pollen can travel over long distances.

3) The public can have no confidence in Scion's claim that wilding pinus radiata are not a serious problem. DOC has another opinion. Scion's GE partner ArborGen, owned by US interests, has a record of failure to maintain biosecurity standards.  In July 2006, ArborGen, was directed to remove GE trees. The lack of a bond or commercial insurance to protect New Zealand from accidental or mischievous release of GE pine pollen increases the unacceptability of  risk.

4) There is no credibility in Scion's claim that benefits will be provided by developing herbicide resistant trees. Overseas experience with herbicide-tolerant transgenic crops has shown increased use of herbicides, and the development of herbicide-resistant weeds.

5) The ecological risks from previous field trials have not been properly assessed to justify further long-term trials in the outdoors. Impacts on local flora and fauna cannot be adequately predicted, as insufficient lab-research has been done. Scion claims that the GE trees are sterile, but genes, including transgenic (GE) DNA, can be transferred from GE tree root systems to soil micro-organisms.

6) Ethical and scientific concerns about 'terminator' type technology have resulted in a voluntary international moratorium.  If approved by ERMA, Scion will be allowed to force New Zealand to breach this agreement and instigate a new level of environmental threat worldwide. For Maori this issue is of local and national concern.

7) New Zealand's national interest and economy is at risk from exploitation of inadequate regulation by ERMA and scant oversight of field trials by MAF, breaching conditions set by ERMA. A history of accidental oversights in MAF Biosecurity standards, meant to control GE field trials, proves there is a real risk of this happening again.
I ask that ERMA does NOT approve for this application.

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