Federated Farmers is asking the New Zealand Green Party to be open about genetic modification (GM) following a shift in thinking by the Australian Green Party.
Australian Greens leader Richard Di Natale has partially broken with his party's policy that genetically modified crops are a risk to human health, which has "opened the door to changing the party's longstanding opposition to genetically modified organisms (GMO)", Federated Farmers say.
Mr Natale told ABC radio that he is interested in the application of the technology "for giving farmers choice", and less around human health. He also told agriculture farm news The Land "it's a bit simplistic to say GMO's are safe or they're not safe".
Federated Farmers encourage the New Zealand Green Party to also review their policy on genetic modification.
"If you look at some of the biggest challenges facing farmers at the moment, such as drought and pressure from some quarters to reduce biological emissions, these are both things that likely have a scientific solution," says Federated Farmers national president Dr William Rolleston.
"Although no crops using GM are approved or grown here yet, this vitally important science is being used successfully in New Zealand. GM products such as food enzymes, medicines and animal feed are now commonplace."
The Greens have so far opposed the release of genetic engineering (GE) and have worked in parliament to improve legislation covering GE organisms.
The party says releasing GE "would destroy our clean green image which is so important to our economy".
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