Seeds of Distrust

It’s sometimes difficult to believe that the widespread application of GE in agriculture dates only from 1996. This suggests that there is much to learn about the environmental and health implications of the technology. There are strong indications of consumer resistance to GE products and growing preferences for safe food options, particularly organically certified and holistic foods free of chemical and other contaminants. The unwarranted introduction of GE materials poses a threat to organic producers and the concerned consumer who prefers to avoid undisclosed risk. Seeds of Distrust, written by Nicky Hager, explores the anti-democratic influence of big business in New Zealand and how political expediency, self-interest and the abuse of power culminated in a cover-up of epic proportions.

Nicky Hager is an investigative journalist whose 2002 publication revealed some of the influences which threatened New Zealand’s position on Genetically engineered crops. The chapter on media manipulation summarises a number of the miscommunications and duplicities which have characterised the emergence of GE technologies throughout a majority of the world’s agricultural communities.

In November 2000, New Zealand government officials were informed that routine testing of a batch of imported sweetcorn was contaminated with unspecified quantities of genetically engineered seed. By the time these results were available, thousands of the contaminated seeds were planted out in separate parts of the country. The political response to the problem was ultimately one of secrecy followed by partial truth and manipulation of the public record.

Hager describes the context in which New Zealand politicians were convinced that efforts to prevent GE contamination were unrealistic and unreasonable. Following consultation with scientific experts, some degree of contamination was perceived as “inevitable”. The government then created the impression that this reported contamination held no threat to national biosecurity. While official press releases questioned the possibility of assuring the purity of any food crop, the conservative media derided environmentalists for their utopian mentalities. Within several weeks, the standard had been established. A contamination of 0.5% was declared to be free of contamination.

Hager’s book provides a powerful reminder of the weak authority exercised by national governments seeking to resist the dominant influence of multinational agrochemical and biotech organisations.

The book is published by Craig Potton Publishing and may be puchased online.