Neil Barton, Chairman of the Grains Council of Federated Farmers, said today that an application to test wheat
genetically modified to be resistant to the herbicide Roundup would be closely considered by the Grains Council and its
members.
The Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) announced yesterday that it had received an application by Monsanto
to field test in containment, genetically modified wheat.
The application is for contained trials to take place in the Canterbury region.
"Grains Council members will be interested in this application. Federated Farmers will be consulting with its members
and seeking to ensure that trial conditions, such as containment, will be adequate," said Mr Barton.
"At this stage, there is no application to release any genetically modified wheat. We are still a long way off from
farmers making any decision whether or not to grow modified wheat. ERMA would first have to consider whether there are
any risks to public health and the environment," he concluded.
ENDS