We are two Australian conventional farmers from states, which have allowed the commercial release of Genetically Engineered (GE) crops.
We have been touring New Zealand, describing our experiences and circumstances since the commercial release of GE crops.
We received a very warm welcome from farmers, scientists, students, urban people and Maori representatives.
We saw great interest and concern by a majority of those we met and discussed how the release of GE would affect New Zealand’s reputation as a clean green producer of high quality food and fibre.
Your nation has a magnificent opportunity to learn from Australia’s lack of foresight.
Price penalties, market resistance and questionable agronomic aspects have combined with very high seed and technology costs to disillusion many who adopted and promoted GE.
A major issue is the effect on non-GE and organic farmers.
Coexistence has proven to be a fallacy because the GE material cannot be contained.
Contamination by less than 1% GE material exposes non-GE growers to significant liability issues, expenses and market issues.
While GE free farmers suffer unfair costs and liabilities, the GE industry is financially rewarded for the inevitable contamination.
The key issues of concern were ignored in Australia because governments and research sectors plan to profit from farmers on their public research alliances with multinationals.
We urge New Zealanders to take genuine concerns seriously and not let the GE industry take control of the debate and the outcomes.
Beware, the GE man bearing gifts in our country is not a good citizen.
We returned to Australia with new information given to us by New Zealand farmers and scientists on viable, effective, and available non-GE alternatives relevant to our farms.
This alone has made our visit to your beautiful country both pleasurable and beneficial.
We thank our many new friends in New Zealand for their warm welcome and hospitality.
Julie Newman & Bob Mackley sent us the above at the end of their visit to New Zealand, which apparently covered many farm locations.
