Farm Tech Executives Call for Extension on GMO Bill Submission Period in New Zealand

An open letter from executives of the farm technology company Hyprecision has expressed strong criticism regarding the New Zealand government's decision to set the submission period for a controversial bill over the Christmas and holiday period. The executives, Greenberg and Henne, argue that this timing "reeks of secrecy," and claim it undermines the ability of farmers to provide informed feedback on a proposal that could significantly impact the dairy industry.

The bill in question aims to establish a new regulatory framework for gene technology and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which the government argues would permit their safe use. However, Hyprecision's leaders assert that this measure necessitates a thorough public discussion, which is hindered by the restricted submission timeframe set to end on 17 February, giving only eight weeks for input.

They highlight that most farmers have only recently returned from holiday and are preoccupied with routine business operations, compounded by compliance with existing regulations. The executives describe the government's approach as "abjectly insulting" and call it a violation of the fair governance principles valued by New Zealanders.

Greenberg and Henne have called upon Fonterra, New Zealand's leading dairy cooperative, to leverage its substantial influence to urge the government to extend the submission period by 90 days. They emphasize that such an extension is crucial for farmers and stakeholders to fully understand the implications of the bill, which could impact New Zealand's market advantage and economic interests.

The appeal concludes with a direct request to Miles Hurrell, CEO of Fonterra, to publicly push for this extension, warning that failure to accommodate a more extended review period could lead to widespread dissatisfaction among the nation’s dairy farmers.