NZ Develops Pesticide Producing Veggies

SYDNEY - Apr 18/07 - SNS -- Researchers in New Zealand have genetically modified kale, cabbages, cauliflower and broccoli so that they produce the same natural pesticide produced by the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria (known as Bt). By doing so, the plants naturally kill caterpillars which feed on the plants.

Research leader Dr Mary Christey is now applying to New Zealand's Environmental Risk Management Authority for approval to undertake garden scale field tests in Canterbury of the pest resistant forage kale, cabbages, cauliflower and broccoli. A public hearing on this application begins in Christchurch next week.

Contained tests like this one have been possible under existing regulations for many years, and Crop and Food Research has conducted 34 similar field tests on a range of crops since 1988.

Crop and Food Research's General Manager Research Prue Williams says it is important that New Zealand scientists continue to explore the benefits of GM technology. "This application for brassica research falls within the Government's recommendation to ‘proceed with caution'. What we learn from this study will be essential to robust assessment of GM technology.

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