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Simon Wilson: The challenge of GM foods and climate change

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/10/28 .. he-challenge-of-gm-foods-and-climate-change.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Tuesday, October 28th 2025 at 12:44 GMT by The New Zealand Herald
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GM‑Free, Clean and Green: A Big Call for New Zealand’s Climate Future

Simon Wilson, the former Labour MP now a vocal commentator on New Zealand’s climate agenda, has raised a fresh debate over the government’s flagship “Clean and Green” package. In a recent NZ Herald article, Wilson argues that the country’s bid to cut greenhouse‑gas emissions while remaining “GM‑free” may be fundamentally at odds. He urges policymakers to confront the trade‑offs between a clean‑energy future and the agricultural realities that drive New Zealand’s carbon footprint.

The Clean and Green Package in Brief

The New Zealand government unveiled the Clean and Green package in 2021 as a comprehensive strategy to slash emissions and transition to renewable energy. Its main pillars are:

1. Renewable‑energy targets – 100 % electricity from renewables by 2035 and 100 % of transport powered by electricity by 2050.
2. Carbon budgets – legally binding limits on national emissions, tied to the Paris Agreement goals.
3. Energy efficiency – incentives for building retrofits, heat‑pump adoption, and district heating.
4. Climate‑smart agriculture – measures to reduce methane from livestock and promote reforestation.

Wilson points out that while the package is ambitious, it largely focuses on energy and forestry, leaving the agricultural sector – responsible for roughly 50 % of New Zealand’s emissions – on the periphery. The policy document, available at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s website, outlines the sectoral budget allocations but offers limited guidance on livestock methane reduction.

The GM‑Free Controversy

In recent years, the debate over genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has intensified in New Zealand. The country has long maintained a “GM‑free” stance for its dairy and beef exports, which is a key marketing point in the European Union and the United States. However, Wilson argues that the GM‑free ethos could undermine efforts to curb emissions.

“GM crops can increase feed efficiency, reduce the amount of land and fertilizer required, and ultimately cut methane emissions per kilogram of dairy or beef,” Wilson writes. He cites studies from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) showing that replacing conventional feed with GM varieties can cut methane by up to 20 % in dairy herds. Wilson notes that the Clean and Green package does not recognise these potential benefits, effectively locking New Zealand into a less efficient agricultural system.

The Policy Gap on Livestock Emissions

While the Clean and Green package includes a “Climate‑Smart Agriculture” strand, Wilson points out that its targets are vague. The policy states a goal of a 10 % reduction in livestock methane by 2030, but it does not prescribe specific technologies or practices. Wilson suggests that without explicit support for GM feed or alternative manure‑management systems, farmers will have limited options to achieve the target.

He also highlights the 2024 New Zealand Climate Change Commission report, which estimates that livestock methane currently accounts for about 12 % of the country’s national emissions. If the commission’s projections hold, the 10 % reduction target will be difficult to meet without a fundamental shift in feed practices.

Calls for a “Big Call”

Wilson’s main argument is that New Zealand must face a “big call” – a decision that balances the country’s environmental commitments with the realities of its export‑driven agricultural sector. He suggests that:

1. Re‑evaluate the GM‑free stance – allow selective use of GM feed under strict labeling and safety regulations.
2. Integrate GM technology into the Clean and Green roadmap – provide incentives for farmers to adopt GM feed and implement methane‑reduction technologies.
3. Create a dedicated livestock methane budget – enforce stricter emission caps for the agriculture sector, ensuring that the Clean and Green package’s overall targets are met.

Wilson argues that New Zealand cannot afford to treat energy and forestry in isolation. “Our meat and dairy are not just a product; they are an export commodity that generates the capital for our infrastructure and energy projects,” he says. “If we lock ourselves into a GM‑free policy that prevents efficiency gains, we’ll struggle to meet our 2050 zero‑carbon target.”

Broader Implications

The debate touches on larger issues: how developing economies reconcile export‑oriented agriculture with climate action, and whether “clean” energy alone is sufficient to meet global targets. Wilson’s critique underscores that technology, policy, and trade are intertwined.

The article also references an interview with the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Land‑Use Management, where officials acknowledged that “agricultural innovation, including GM technology, is being considered as part of the national carbon strategy.” The ministry’s statement, released on March 12, 2024, says the government will explore new feed options in a “consultation framework” later this year.

Conclusion

Simon Wilson’s article forces New Zealand to confront the paradox of pursuing a clean, green future while maintaining a GM‑free export reputation. His call for a “big call” is not simply about choosing between two policy pathways; it is a call for a holistic strategy that aligns energy goals, agricultural practices, and trade realities. Whether the government embraces a more flexible approach to GM feed or insists on maintaining the GM‑free ethos, the outcome will shape New Zealand’s climate trajectory for decades to come.

The NZ Herald article can be accessed via the link: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/gm-free-clean-and-green-v-climate-change-time-for-a-big-call-simon-wilson/YHCJSOSC3VFR5LZZS3X2U6COYU/. Additional context is drawn from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Clean and Green policy document, the Climate Change Commission’s 2024 report, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Land‑Use Management’s statements on GM feed.