Ian McLean Green Scene Spokesperson for the Green Party

Genetic engineering is not all bad. It may promote human wellbeing, such as through supporting medical treatments. But when implemented on an industrial scale, as in agriculture, the consequences can be environmentally and socially destructive. We need to beware of such effects.

In a small victory for environmental protection last week, the Environment Court determined a community has the right to be cautious about the arrival of genetically modified plants and animals (GMOs) in its neighbourhood.

But the victory came at significant cost to the taxpayer. Scion attempted to block any mention of GMOs in the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Regional Policy Statement. The regional council wanted precautionary wording in there. We support, both through taxes and rates, so were betting each way on the outcome.

This was a test case. Regional councils throughout the country are now free to use precautionary wording if they wish. Such an approach doesn't block the arrival of GMOs, but will make their introduction more difficult.

Why we should beware GMOs is at the core of the argument. Reasons include GMOs allow multinational industries to control every step in our food chain, they promote increased contamination of soils, and they can set neighbours against each other when pollen blows across the road.