We, MASIPAG (Farmer-Scientist Partnership for Development), a network of more than 500 farmer organizations, non-government organizations, and scientists working for farmer empowerment through farmer-led agroecology, stand in solidarity with the peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand who are resisting the corporate-driven push to deregulate genetically modified organisms (GMOs), including gene-edited crops. Our struggle for food sovereignty, farmers’ rights, and biodiversity protection is deeply connected to yours. We join you in opposing the Gene Technology Bill, which threatens to dismantle essential biosafety protections, override democratic decision-making, and erode the rights of farmers, consumers, and Indigenous communities.
The experience of the Philippines serves as a critical warning. Despite widespread opposition from farmers, scientists, and civil society, the government approved the commercial propagation of Golden Rice in 2021 and Bt eggplant in 2022. These GM crops were introduced without independent long-term safety studies or proper consultation with farmers, raising serious concerns about food safety, environmental impact, and corporate control over seeds. Meanwhile, the genome-edited GABA tomato was excluded from biosafety regulations, setting a dangerous precedent where gene-edited crops can bypass essential scrutiny, leaving consumers uninformed and farmers vulnerable to unforeseen risks.
However, in a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of the Philippines issued a Writ of Kalikasan against the commercial release of Golden Rice and Bt eggplant in 2023. This ruling reinforced one of the most progressive interpretations of the precautionary principle, asserting that in the absence of scientific consensus on the safety of these GM crops, precaution must be invoked to protect public health and the environment. The numerous studies presented by the petitioners, the testimonies of their expert witnesses, the GMO bans and restrictions in other countries, and the absence of regulatory safety assessments by respondents show that there is scientific uncertainty on the impacts of Golden Rice and Bt eggplant, for which the precautionary principle must apply. The decision underscores the necessity of rigorous risk assessments and public participation in determining the safety of GMOs.
The Gene Technology Bill in Aotearoa, New Zealand, removes fundamental safeguards, including the precautionary principle, and enables foreign regulatory decisions to dictate local policy. It shifts the burden of risk to farmers and communities while prioritizing corporate interests over ecological and public health concerns. If passed, the bill would open the floodgates for gene-edited and genetically modified organisms without adequate safety evaluations, environmental protections, or democratic oversight.
We stand with the many organizations, researchers, farmers, and Indigenous groups demanding the withdrawal of the Gene Technology Bill in its present form. We echo your calls to:
● Restore the precautionary principle in genetic modification regulations.
● Reinstate the right of local and territorial authorities to establish GE-free zones.
● Uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi and ensure Māori sovereignty over genetic resources.
● Require comprehensive environmental and food safety assessments for all gene-edited and genetically modified products.
● Reject automatic approvals of GMOs based on foreign regulatory decisions.
● Hold gene technology companies accountable for contamination risks, ensuring strict liability for economic and environmental damage.
Aotearoa, New Zealand, has long been a leader in maintaining strong protections against genetic engineering. Your resistance against this bill is not just a fight for New Zealand—it is a fight for all communities defending their food sovereignty against corporate-driven deregulation. The global movement against unsafe GMOs stands with you.
Your victory against the Gene Technology Bill will send a powerful message to governments worldwide that our food systems must remain in the hands of the people, not corporations. We remain in solidarity with you in this struggle for safe, sustainable, and farmer-led food systems.