Richard Scott: AgResearch Science Team Lead on the Government lifting bans on gene technology

Researchers are hoping take advantage of new gene technology regulations as soon as possible.

The Government's planning to introduce legislation this year to let researchers develop and commercialise gene tech products - outside laboratories.

AgResearch Science Team Lead Richard Scott says taking it out of the lab will speed progress and reduce red tape.

He says projects are already under way on genetically modified grasses.

"We've already put forward an application to trial that in New Zealand - and we've got another couple lined up and ready to go."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Science Minister Judith Collins is letting GE out of the lab.
She's vowed that the ban on GE is going to
be lifted by the end of next year. Richard Scott
is ad Research Science team leader and with us. Now, hey, Richard,
hi there, How do you feel about this.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Looking forward to seeing what comes out of this new legislation,
comes out of these changes, right?

Speaker 1 (00:21):
What do you think there's going to be some devil
in the detail?

Speaker 2 (00:24):
Oh, that's exactly what I think there's But look at
going by what's out there at the moment, it's going
to be good for science. It's going to allow science
and the laboratory to progress a lot faster, and then
in the next steps maybe take it out of the laboratory.
We're going to be able to probably have less well
happily have less paper and that sort of thing to

(00:46):
run through.

Speaker 1 (00:47):
Are you working on stuff that you want to be
able to get out there and out of the lab?

Speaker 2 (00:52):
Yes. Tech Research has got at least three pro gigs
that we're working on in terms of genetically modifying that
are for farming, and we've already put forward an application
to trial that in New Zealand. That's been looking at
the moment, and we've got another couple that are lined

(01:13):
up ready to go.

Speaker 1 (01:14):
Oh this is like the white clover. Yeah, that the
animals can eat and then they fart less.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
Well, that's one of the ones we've got. Yes, we've
got that one that's for animal health and less migain.
We've got another one for rye grass, which is another
common grass which is the main grass ground in New
Zealand with increased energy. And then we've got gen edited
indo fits, which are I've fung you that live within
grasses are symbiotic, and so looking at editing then for

(01:44):
less impact on animal health but better protection against them.

Speaker 1 (01:48):
Are you surprised, Richard, Like, if you cast your mind
back to how we collectively lost our minds in two
thousand and two about corn gate, are you surprised that
people are pretty chill about it in twenty twenty four?

Speaker 2 (02:00):
No, I don't, not really. I think there's enough evidence
coming out now from overseas and that it's not the
big evil thing that everybody made it where everybody thought
it might be. The evidence that's coming out from it
being grown widely in many countries.

Speaker 1 (02:20):
I mean, I take that point, but why is it
that in two thousand and two, other countries were able
to deal with it in a mature way, and we
freaked out.

Speaker 2 (02:28):
I don't know. I think a lot of it is
around New Zealanders. I can'tunderstand it, the perception of it
and a unique country and being very pretictive of it.
So I could see that would be a very strong.

Speaker 1 (02:49):
And to our in our defense, I suppose we do
like our things. We like whole food and natural stuff,
so maybe it's in our blood to just not wuck
around with stuff too much. But Richard, thank you very much.
Best luck with those projects. They sound cool. That's Richard
Scott ag research science team leader. For more from Hither
Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to news talks.

Speaker 2 (03:09):
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