What’s at stake: Kiwi researchers have developed rapid-flowering apple trees, ones that can adapt to a warming climate along with ones bred with new traits such as high vitamins using genetic techniques. Prevar, the industry’s commercial arm, is keen to commercialise them if public acceptance is there.
Background: GM apples have been on sale in other parts of the world since 2017 but trials here have been carried out in containment only because of New Zealand’s restrictive GM laws. Plant & Food research has shown consumer acceptance offshore, providing there is a benefit to them rather than just the grower.
Main players: Plant & Food Research, University of Auckland, Prevar, Tony Martin, Professor Andy Allan, Professor Richard Newcomb, GE-Free New Zealand, Jon Carapiet.
Quick explainer:
Genetic modification organisms (GMO): any organism that has been genetically modified through any genetic engineering technique, including transgenic organisms.
Genetic modification (GM): The act of utilising genetic technology to modify the genome of an organism, also referred to as genetic engineering. This doesn’t include traditional breeding techniques.
Gene editing (GE): Gene editing is a precise form of genetic modification/genetic engineering that enables targeted changes to the DNA sequence.
New genomic techniques (NGT):New genome techniques cover a diverse collection of techniques all of which have different levels of specificity or precision. All NGTs are techniques used to modify the genome of an organism.
Source: Aotearoa Circle report on modern genetic technology.
The world’s first genetically engineered apple – the Arctic apple – went on sale in North America in 2017 after many years of development, GE-free protests, and regulatory red tape.
The apple has been genetically modified to introduce a gene that reduces the levels of enzymes that make the
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Key points
What’s at stake: Kiwi researchers have developed rapid-flowering apple trees, ones that can adapt to a warming climate along with ones bred with new traits such as high vitamins using genetic techniques. Prevar, the industry’s commercial arm, is keen to commercialise them if public acceptance is there.
Background: GM apples have been on sale in other parts of the world since 2017 but trials here have been carried out in containment only because of New Zealand’s restrictive GM laws. Plant & Food research has shown consumer acceptance offshore, providing there is a benefit to them rather than just the grower.
Main players: Plant & Food Research, University of Auckland, Prevar, Tony Martin, Professor Andy Allan, Professor Richard Newcomb, GE-Free New Zealand, Jon Carapiet.
Quick explainer:
Genetic modification organisms (GMO): any organism that has been genetically modified through any genetic engineering technique, including transgenic organisms.
Genetic modification (GM): The act of utilising genetic technology to modify the genome of an organism, also referred to as genetic engineering. This doesn’t include traditional breeding techniques.
Gene editing (GE): Gene editing is a precise form of genetic modification/genetic engineering that enables targeted changes to the DNA sequence.
New genomic techniques (NGT):New genome techniques cover a diverse collection of techniques all of which have different levels of specificity or precision. All NGTs are techniques used to modify the genome of an organism.
Source: Aotearoa Circle report on modern genetic technology.
