We'll rip crops from fields, say organic farmers
New Zealand Herald
01.08.2001 By NAOMI LARKIN [shortened]

Organic farmers are threatening to dig up genetically modified crops if the Government allows GM field trials.   Tony Higginson, representative of the Far North Organic Growers and Producers, said yesterday that organic farmers were devastated by the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification's report.  

This recommends approval be given to field trials of GM crops and suggests new proposals for "conditional release" of GM organisms.   "We are absolutely staggered and gutted at the findings of this commission. We cannot understand how they can ignore and refute the submissions made by organic producers, both local and international."  

The commission's $6.2 million report said it would be unwise for New Zealand to turn its back on the potential of GM technology, but urged caution.   It rejected as impractical the idea of the country being GM-free.  

Mr Higginson said growers and producers would make fresh submissions, protest and rip up GM crops if the recommendations were accepted. The Green Party said it would join the campaign to overturn the report and warned that it might downgrade its support for the Labour-Alliance Government.  

"They [the Government] will make their response in the full knowledge of our likely response to their response," said Greens co-leader Rod Donald.  

Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday: "Obviously the Greens are valued allies. We'll keep talking to them through this process."

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