Science Media Centre

Jarrod Booker writes in the New Zealand Herald about Plant and Food Research’s contention that its safety procedures are adequate, following an investigation into the second escape in 2 years of GM plants from a facility belonging to it. It says that it has learned from the latest breach, and has tightened its procedures to [...]

Q+A’s Paul Holmes interviews the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor Professor Sir Peter Gluckman about the Global Research Alliance, an international initiative set up by New Zealand to investigate how best to reduce agricultural emissions. The GRA’s first meeting took place recently in Wellington, and Gluckman commented on the GRA and its purpose, as well [...]

Ash means empty skies over Britain Thousands of travellers are feeling the effects of a large volcanic eruption in Iceland, with flights across Europe cancelled as ash floats across Britain and the continent. The impact on travel plans is illustrated well in this graphic that ran in The Guardian. Scientists meanwhile have been analysing every [...]

Eloise Gibson writes in the New Zealand Herald about the decision by Erma to allow scientists to create and work with genetically modified sheep, goats and cows. The research, to be conducted by AgResearch, will involve putting human genes into the animals in order to produce specific human proteins in their milk – it is [...]

The Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) has granted AgResearch approval to continue working with genetically modified cells and animals. The research, being conducted on goats, sheep and cattle, aims to develop specific proteins in milk which could be used to treat certain human diseases. An excerpt: (read in full here) “Erma said it considered the [...]

Chris Barton writes in the NZ Herald about the vigorous debate over the use of genetic modification (GM) in the country, presenting the arguments of both sides. Pro-GM campaigners say that such research is necessary for the development of therapies and treatments for a number of diseases, and that using animals to produce some of [...]

Eloise Gibson writes in the New Zealand Herald that the PM’s chief science advisor Professor Sir Peter Gluckman’s UK counterpart, Professor John Beddington, has suggested that New Zealand reevaluate its position on GM. Saying that to classify GM either ‘good’ or ‘bad’ is not the right approach, he said it had a powerful role to [...]

Neal Wallace of the Otago Daily Times writes about warnings that NZ’s pasture-based farming system might have to change. Stephen Goldson, AgResearch’s chief scientist and the vice-president of the Royal Society of New Zealand has said that pastoral farming may have reached its upper limits, in terms of production, and that new strategies such as [...]

Kent Atkinson (NZPA) reports in Business Day on the upcoming application by the Pastoral Genomics group for a conditional release of GM forages, in particular clover and ryegrass. The application, however, has raised concerns amongst some groups who worry that the altered genes could spread into non-GM pasture species. An excerpt: (read in full here) [...]

Eloise Gibson reports in the NZ Herald on concerns that the development and use of genetically modified animals in New Zealand could damage its overseas image. However, a paper released by the Royal Society has suggested that international attitudes towards GM food and animals may be changing due worries about food security and climate change. [...]