A Green Party leader has condemned the application by state
science company AgResearch to genetically engineer a range of
animals, as well as human and monkey cells and yeasts and
bacteria.
"It wants to turn New Zealand into a giant GE laboratory to
boost its own corporate plans at the expense of our long-term
image, and without taking into account the huge risk of
something going wrong," Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons
said.
AgResearch has made four applications for the laboratory
testing of human and monkey cell lines and smaller species of
genetically engineered laboratory animals, and the
development of GE cows, buffalo, sheep, pigs, goats, llamas,
alpacas, deer and horses.
The livestock could be used to produce antigens,
bio-pharmaceuticals, enzymes, hormones and other products
with possible health benefits and commercial applications.
AgResearch said it was making a "suite" of applications to
obtain all the possible approvals it might need for research,
breeding and production.
Its use of copies of human DNA would not involve Maori
genetic material.
AgResearch said targeted high-value protein production in
milk would be a niche market, supplied by small numbers of GE
animals kept in containment.
"Any future farming operations [in containment facilities]
will be limited to current farming areas in New Zealand such
as Waikato, Taranaki, Canterbury and Southland," the company
said.
The four applications on Erma's register are now open to
public submissions, which will close on October 31.
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