Farmers Must Be Told The Truth About GE Ryegrass Performance – GE Free New Zealand

AgResearch has issued the findings of the first animal feeding study results of genetically engineered High Metabolisable Energy (HME) ryegrass that contains two foreign genes, sesame and rice, show that GE ryegrass is not a viable technical fix. The GE rye grass for this study has not has Environmental Protection Authority approval.[1]

The AgResearch $25 million GE rye grass trials conducted from 2017-2022, found that the field trials results did not meet the expected performance end points. The GE rye grass died back when under competition and if the temperature went over 26C, overall, there was a yield penalty. The planned feeding trials to be conducted in 2020 had to be postponed as the GE grass did not generate enough fodder to feed any animals. [2]

Information, received under the OIA, from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said they had not approved the grass trial and AgResearch reported that the GE rye grass for the lamb study, GE rye grass for the lamb study, was grown in separate pots in controlled laboratory conditions in the Palmerston North glass house and turned into non-viable dry matter (hay silage) taking 18 months to collect enough to carry out the experiment. [3] [4]

The 24 lambs were divided into two groups 12 fed GE rye grass and 12 as controls. They were fed for 11days in special pens to record their emissions. Compared to the controls the methane levels were 7% for the GE rye grass vs 4.4% for the controls.[2]

“How often do farmers feed their lambs dried unviable 18 month hay grown in laboratory glasshouse conditions, never,” said Claire Bleakley, president of GE Free NZ.

This does not match the successful proven alternatives available today and farmers are being sold a GE failure. Linseed oil added to supplementary feeds have a higher methane reduction rate Multi-species forage is also delivering greater reduction (13%) in emissions than GE trials and research has shown the New Zealand based company growing red seaweed for supplements can reduce methane emissions by 90%. [5] [6] [7]

The Gene Technology Bill will allow exempted, unregulated, unmonitored GE trials and release into the environment and the food chain with no safety, accountability or regulatory oversight. The drafting of the Bill did not even consider the poor results and failures of the New Zealand field trials.

“This unapproved study is a waste of money and a misleading farmer promotion for a failed GE experiment,” said Bleakley “GE rye grass cross contamination will affect performance of the pure non-GE grass seed, once released it cannot be recalled”.

References:

[1] https://www.agresearch.co.nz/news/pasture-biotechnology-update-3/

[2] Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment,

• https://www.gefree.org.nz/assets/Uploads/C10X1603-CR-1.pdf
• https://www.gefree.org.nz/assets/Uploads/C10X1603-CR-2.pdf
• https://www.gefree.org.nz/assets/Uploads/C10X1603-CR-3.pdf
• https://www.gefree.org.nz/assets/Uploads/C10X1603-CR-4.pdf
• https://www.gefree.org.nz/assets/Uploads/C10X1603-CR-5.pdf
• https://www.gefree.org.nz/assets/Uploads/C10X1603-CR-6.pdf

[3] https://www.gefree.org.nz/assets/Uploads/OIA-response-ENQ-49181-B8B4F3.pdf
[4] https://www.gefree.org.nz/assets/Uploads/Letter-GE-Free-New-Zealand-HME-Livestock-Feeding-Trials.pdf

[5] https://www.thecattlesite.com/articles/2565/feeding-linseed-reduces-methane-production

[6] https://www.fas.scot/article/multispecies-or-herbal-leys-what-are-the-advantages/

[7] https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/541923/red-seaweed-cuts-methane-emissions-from-cattle-scientists-say