Biotechnology

Biotechnology and genetic modification - New Zealand's position

What is biotechnology?

Biotechnology is a broad term for a group of technologies that are based on applying biological processes. It involves the use of living things or their derivatives to solve problems and make products. Biotechnology has been with us for centuries in the form of fermentation, bread-making, and selective breeding. Some modern biotechnologies include molecular and cellular biochemistry, DNA technology, and gene technologies such as genetic modification.

Biotechnology has been critical to New Zealand's success for over 100 years and is likely to become even more important in the 21st century, which has already been dubbed the "biotechnology century". New Zealanders have always been good at developing and using technology to improve production, increase competitiveness, and create new products.

A New Zealand biotechnology strategy

The government wants to ensure that New Zealand realises the benefits from biotechnology in a responsible way that protects the community and the environment. Biotechnology is one of the three sectors that the government is targeting in its Growth and Innovation Framework to drive innovation and growth into the future. In October 2002, the government published a framework for a New Zealand biotechnology strategy (www.morst.govt.nz/Biotech/biotech_home.asp). The government's vision for biotechnology is that:

"New Zealand responsibly applies our world-class biological knowledge, skills, innovation and technologies to benefit the wealth, health and environment of New Zealanders, now and in the future."

The Government's goals for biotechnology are to:

  • build understanding and positive connections between the community and the biotechnology sector;
  • manage the development and introduction of new biotechnologies with a regulatory system that optimises opportunities and innovation while safeguarding health and the environment; and
  • grow New Zealand's biotechnology sector.

Community participation and debate

As in other countries, some aspects of biotechnology are the subject of strong and conflicting views within the community. The government is improving the mechanisms to incorporate those diverse views and encourage public participation in decisions. In 2000, the government established the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, which heard evidence from a wide range of New Zealand and international witnesses and received over 10,000 submissions. At the time it was the most comprehensive inquiry into the issue in any country. As a result of its recommendations, the government is establishing a Bioethics council to advise ministers and to promote dialogue on the ethical, spiritual and cultural aspects of biotechnology.

A robust regulatory system

At the same time, it is essential that new biotechnologies are regulated appropriately to protect the health and safety of communities and New Zealand's environment. New Zealand has a comprehensive regulatory system covering foods, medicines, and agricultural chemicals, and has required formal assessment and approval for all genetically modified organisms since 1998. The Royal Commission recommended some changes to the regulatory system, and the government has imposed a moratorium on new applications to release genetically modified organisms while it is considering those changes. The government released a number of legislative proposals for public comment in October 2002 (www.hsno.govt.nz).

New Zealand's biotechnology sector

New Zealand's biotechnology sector is relatively small, with between 100 and 200 companies depending on how biotechnology is defined. Industry New Zealand commissioned a survey of the sector in 2001. The Government has set up a taskforce of representatives from the biotechnology sector to provide advice on growing the sector, particularly in relation to barriers to innovation and growth.

What will the future hold?

Biotechnology will be important to New Zealand in the following areas:

  • Health - new ways to understand, diagnose and treat diseases.
  • Agriculture - identifying elite breeding lines, better biological control of pests, and creating disease-resistant crops.
  • Environment - using organisms to clean up toxic chemicals, using DNA detection to improve biosecurity, and reducing methane emissions from animals.
  • Justice - using DNA techniques to catch criminals.
  • Manufacturing - creating new biomaterials and using organisms to produce products cheaply.

It is difficult to predict how much genetic modification will be used in New Zealand, though this issue will retain a high profile at least until the moratorium on releasing genetically modified organisms expires on 30 October 2003, and beyond. Producers have indicated that the most widely used genetically modified crops overseas (soybeans, cotton, corn, and canola) are grains for bulk commodity production that are not suited to New Zealand. Our producers are also very conscious of market demands and will not attempt to grow products that they cannot sell. This means it may be several years before any genetically modified crop is grown for commercial purposes. If the Government allows conditional release, there may be some non-commercial trials of genetically modified potatoes, onions, or pine trees. It is possible that the first genetically modified organism approved for release will be a vaccine or animal remedy.

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