With less than a week to go before submissions close on the Government’s controversial Gene Technology Bill, two agribusiness executives – John Greenberg and Michael Henne – are calling on Fonterra to demand an extension to the submission period.
In an open letter, the two executives from farm technology company Hyprecision say the government decision to have the submission period for the contentious bill fall over the Christmas and holiday period “reeks of secrecy”.
“But here we are, less than eight weeks later, staring down a 17 February deadline to submit our comments on a proposal that could turn our dairy industry upside down,” they say. “It’s a slap in the face to every farmer who makes this nation prosper.”
The Government says the bill would enable the safe use of gene technology and regulated organisms in New Zealand.
Greenberg and Henne say they aren’t arguing for or against GMOS.
“That conversation deserves careful study and broad public input,” they say. “But who has the time or resources to do that right now?”
They say that farmers have only just returned from holiday, and many are already buried in the day-to-day demands of running their businesses.
“That’s on top of meeting regulations already pumped out by Parliament. To slam us with a Bill that could rewire our entire industry on eight weeks’ notice is abjectly insulting and completely disregards the spirit of fair governance that all Kiwis value.”
The pair want Fonterra to use its influence to insist that the Government extend the submission period.
“Our cooperative wields immense influence over our nation’s economy and, we should remember, is owned by thousands of shareholders who will bear the brunt of any shifts in policy,” they say.
“The CEO of Fonterra, Miles Hurrell, must publicly demand a 90-day extension for public comment on the Bill.”
“We need to know exactly what we’re signing up for. Genetic modification might offer benefits in terms of efficiency or resilience, or it might threaten our single most important market advantage, disrupt export relationships, and cash us out to international big ag corporations.”
Henne and Greenberg say they are concerned that farmers won’t be able to develop informed opinions on the bill because of the timing of its announcement.
“The time for polite requests has passed,” they say.
“We need Fonterra, our cooperative, to stand up and demand a 90-day extension on the comment period. It’s the bare minimum required to ensure that this Bill is fully understood by those who will be most affected by it.”
“Fonterra’s leadership must publicly insist on it. And if the government refuses, let them face the backlash from thousands of dairy farmers who are tired of being sidelined and patronised.”
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