Gene editing technology is expected to be a major focus of the national government

By RNZ’s Monique Steele

The future of controversial gene technology is expected to be high on the agenda of the incoming national government.

Gene modification and editing technologies have generated some buzz in recent years as New Zealand struggles to maintain its position as a producer of high quality and naturally produced food and drink.

Scientists at the King’s Plant and Food Research Institute said that while gene technologies could speed up the development of disease-resistant plants and reduce pesticide use, they would first need public support.

The European Union has set targets to halve the use of chemical pesticides by 2030 – and New Zealand’s apple and pear production wants to be completely spray-free by 2050.

But scientists face a long way to go if they are to continue current traditional selection techniques to breed plants for disease resistance, as this could take years to achieve.

The National Party proposed a plan to “harness biotech” in June, ending the country’s effective ban on gene editing and modification.

The party’s science, innovation and technology spokeswoman, Judith Collins, said it would end bans on GE and GM, introduce a dedicated biotech regulator and streamline approvals for trials and use of the technology.

Currently, scientists who want to carry out gene editing work face a number of lengthy regulatory barriers and approvals.

Plant and Food Research’s general manager of new variety innovation, Dr Zac Hanley, said the practices were being used in laboratories in New Zealand – but in isolation from traditional plant breeding, which did take longer to produce results .

“We’re certainly studying the technology in an enclosed space – in glass boxes that have double doors and so on – to see what it can do – but with the full understanding that you can’t take it outside and make it part of a breeding program – we have to keep them very separate,” Hanley said.

“It’s easy to show that it can make a significant difference in something like adapting to a future climate or dealing with future pests that aren’t here in New Zealand.”

He said it was “impossible” to speed up the process of creating more climate and disease-resistant plants – unless technologies such as gene editing were used.

“But then you run into a different set of controversies, market acceptance and consumer expectations – you’re trying to solve one problem, but you might create another in some people’s eyes.

“It would be very interesting to be a part of the discussion about how people oppose these things, what gene editing or other technology means to them and how they are willing to accept that or work with it and understand it.”

“There’s a really important discussion ahead if people want to make changes to the legislation.”

Marlborough’s Bragato Research Institute has received $18.7 million from the Department for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fiber Fund in 2021 for a seven-year program to develop new drought-, frost- and disease-resistant New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc varieties.

Chief Vine Improvement Scientist Darrell Lizamore said good progress had been made using traditional plant breeding methods.

“There are many gains to be made by adopting genetic technologies – by that I don’t mean GMOs, I mean the ability to understand DNA through sequencing, as we saw during the Covid pandemic the ability to identify genetic differences between individuals and select for them based on that and so we’re adding an incredible amount of efficiency to growing plants that we can take advantage of.”

But he said it was a slow process – and continuing to import European varieties remained a viable option as Europe was decades ahead in its work.

“But between using molecular techniques to improve selection levels and also through imports … I think we can make gains over 10 to 20 years that would otherwise take us 40 to 60 if we had to do it ourselves let’s start from scratch.’

Lizamore said more clarity was needed on the future of gene technology in New Zealand, as the public would ultimately decide whether they wanted to buy and drink genetically edited varieties of wine under a new name.