3.1 Science & Technology: GM Myths Debunked

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#1 Myth:

The precautionary principle requires us to adopt a zero risk strategy on the release of GM technology into the environment

The Reality that the Royal Commission found:

The role of the precautionary principle in New Zealand law was considered at some length in the closing legal submission presented by the Life Sciences Network which pointed out that, although none of the international formulations of the principle were incorporated into New Zealand domestic law:

... the concept of caution is incorporated into domestic legislation and policy by the promulgation of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (“HSNO” or “HSNO Act”) itself. More particularly, that approach is overtly to be found in section 7 of HSNO requiring the adoption of a cautious or precautionary approach. Although we heard much discussion of the precautionary principle and the precautionary approach from those who opposed the release of genetically modified organisms into the environment, there was no consensus on the meaning of either term. The meaning of precaution often rests in the values held by the speaker.

The Commission considers there is more merit in hearing and responding to the message contained in the words than in seeking to define the meaning or determine how the principle should be applied. In any event, we were not convinced that a single principle could be applied across the board to the use of genetic modification in New Zealand. Decisions on the use of the technology must rest on a range of factors, including the risks and acceptability to the public of the proposed use. They are factors that should inform the process of managing genetic modification.

(Chapter 4 page 67 paragraphs 93-95)

#2 Myth:

Field Trials will result in uncontrolled release of GM organisms

The reality that the Royal Commission found:

The RCGM considers that “Field trials are an essential part of risk/benefit analysis prior to any release into the wider environment. Without field trials it is not possible to assess safety” and that “The safety of field trials and the adequacy of methods to contain risk, can be adequately assessed and dealt with through risk management programmes by ERMA”

The Commission considers that “rigorous monitoring of field trials is essential and that material associated with the trial must be removable from the site”

The Commission also noted that no one argued for completely unregulated research. “Even the most enthusiastic supporters of genetic modification were clear it was vital that research was conducted within the context of a robust regulatory frame works and that risks should be carefully managed.”

(Chapter 6 page 123)

#3 Myth:

That New Zealand should go GE Free

The reality that the Royal Commission found:

Today more than 15 million people with diabetes world-wide use insulin derived from genetically modified organisms (recombinant human insulin). In New Zealand about 15,000 type 1 diabetics are completely reliant on this insulin for survival. The number of New Zealanders with type 2 diabetes is estimated at 185,000, and 17,000 or more of these people also use insulin for blood glucose control.

New Zealand was one of the first countries to get recombinant insulin approved, in 1983, very soon after the first world-wide commercial use in the United Kingdom. Before this date, serious diabetics received insulin extracted from pig and cow pancreases. Ageing populations, wider insulin use and obesity meant more and more insulin was being used. Insulin from the equivalent of up to 70 pig pancreases a year is typically used by a diabetic and there were looming supply problems.

Patients can develop resistance to the action of injected insulin. Occasionally this is because of allergenicity to the insulin molecule itself, but more often it is to the chemicals used to modify the speed at which it works, and to contaminants. It was because of this that in 1985 the availability of recombinant insulin was widened, and in 1986 beef insulin use was discontinued in New Zealand. This was before there were concerns about mad cow disease.

Genetic technology makes it possible to produce large quantities of recombinant human insulin at relatively low cost. The first biosynthetic insulin made, and still used, is physically, chemically and biologically identical to the insulin made in healthy human pancreases, except that it is produced by genetically modified organisms in a contained fermentation system.

To avoid the need to attach other chemicals to the insulin molecule to alter the speed and length of time an insulin injection worked, research led to the development of another insulin molecule with a single chemical change known as Humulog™. The first patent in the world for manufacturing this was granted in South Africa on 29 January 1986 [Patent no. 85/4083] and in New Zealand on 3 November 1988 [Patent no. 212243]. Both patents expire on 29 May 2005, and after this time other companies than Novo Nordisk will be able to manufacture insulin in this way.

Better insulin leads to better blood sugar control and a reduction in the nasty complications of diabetes such as blindness, amputations, kidney failure and heart attacks.

(Chapter 9 page 243)

#4 Myth:

Organic farming can displace all other production types by 2020

The reality that the Royal Commission found:

The RCGM noted ‘that economic reasoning suggests that it is not a realistic option for New Zealand to develop its organic sector at the expense of conventional farming and/or the use of genetic modification techniques, as in the long run it is unlikely that abnormal levels of profit would be made. We also note that while organic products may always sell at a price premium, one of the reasons for this is likely to be their higher production costs.

(Chapter 5 page 93 paragraph 70)

and

Some submitters called for New Zealand to become 100% organic. In the commissions opinion “this subset of a “genetic modification free New Zealand” is not economically viable. Organic foods may indeed attract a premium. However, world markets are uncertain, and it is unlikely that organic exports would attract a sufficient premium in the near or medium future to offset to any degree the contractionary effect of not allowing any genetic modification in the country.

(Chapter 13 page 332 paragraph 10)