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First posted:
1 August 2008
Updated: 15 August 2008
Updated 7 August 2009
Tree
species being manipulated:
- Radiata pine and Norway spruce (1)
- Eucalyptus sp. (2)
- Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus grandis X Eucalyptus urophylla) (4)
Aim of genetic
manipulation
- trees with reporter
and selection genes (1)
- herbicide tolerance (1)
- flowerless trees (1)
- wood easier to pulp (1)
- cold-tolerance (4)
- insect-resistance (4)
Those
carrying out the research:
- Scion (a Crown Research Institute -formerly
known as Forest Research- which provides research and development
services to the forestry sector through Ensis, a collaboration between
Scion and Australia's CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products) (7)
- Scion has signed a research agreement with GE tree research company
ArborGen, owned by International Paper, MeadWestvaco and the New Zealand
company Rubicon. (2)
Those who
provide support to research:
- Life Sciences Network, a pro-GE lobby
group. Scion is a member of the Life Sciences Network. (5)
Field trials
- Apparently none at present. On 2 May
2008, Scion disseminated a Press Release: "No Environmental Impact
from Genetically Modified Research Trees - Field Trial Provides New
Science”, which appears to be a response to public concerns
regarding its field trial. On 9 June 2008, all the trees (55), both
genetically modified and control trees were felled as the trial came
to an end. (3)
Collaboration
with USA
- Eucalyptus genetically modified in
New Zealand to withstand American caterpillars and tolerate colder
temperatures have been growing on a secret one-acre plot in Baldwin
County, Alabama, for two years. The trees belong to the company ArborGen.
(6)
- In July 2009, ArborGen received preliminary approval from the U.S.
government to plant some 260,000 GE eucalyptus trees genetically manipulated
in New Zealand. (4)
Regulatory
framework for research and field trials:
- Field trials need to be authorized
by the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA), in line with
the assessment practices established by the Hazardous Substances and
New Organisms Act (HSNO Act) 1996. Steffan Browning of the Soil and
Health Association notes that "ERMA has never declined an application
for a GE field trial." He points out that there is a conflict
of interest, in that "some ERMA decision makers [are] employed
by other GE experimenting CRIs [Crown Research Institutions]".
(8)
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), monitors compliance
with the standards set out by ERMA (12)
Organizations
opposing GE trees:
GE-Free New Zealand in food & environment
(Rage Inc.), a non-profit organisation with branches in the Kapiti
Coast, Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington, Hawkes Bay, Taupo
and Auckland.” (9)
The Soil and Health Association, a New
Zealand NGO founded in 1941. Has been campaigning for the GE tree
trial to be stopped and the trees to be removed. (10)
Actions by
unidentified actors:
In January 2008, someone got into Scion's
GE tree experiment site and damaged 19 trees. (1)
Sources
(1) http://www.wrm.org.uy/bulletin/126/viewpoint.html#Aotearoa
(2) http://www.wrm.org.uy/bulletin/123/viewpoint.html#ArborGen
(3) http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0805/S00008.htm
(4) http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0906/S00313.htm
(5) http://www.lifesciencesnetwork.com/educationarchives.asp
(6) http://www.wrm.org.uy/bulletin/118/USA.html
(7) http://www.scionresearch.com/scion+profile.aspx
(8) http://www.organicnz.org/organic-nz-magazine/1156/ge-trees-field-trial-at-rotorua/
(9) http://www.gefree.org.nz
(10) http://www.organicnz.org
(11) http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/organisms/about-gm/research.html
(12) http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/organisms/gm-nz-approach-oct03/gm-approach-oct03.html
