04 385-7545
eco@eco.org.nz
  • Who We Are
    • What We Do
    • Our Team
  • Environmental action
    • Key Issues
      • Antarctic protection
      • Aquaculture
      • Biodiversity
      • Climate Energy
      • Catchment and Coastal
      • Forests
      • Lakes, Rivers and Wetlands
      • Mining
      • Oceans and Fisheries
      • Organics and GE
      • Waste
      • Energy
      • Resource Management
    • Current Petitions
    • Join a Working Group
      • Improved environmental management and laws
      • Conservation, biosecurity and biodiversity
      • Oceans, marine and fisheries
      • International, IUCN, Antarctica and the Southern Ocean
      • Climate Change and Energy
      • Open Democratic and Participative Society
      • Policy and promotion of our vision for the environment
  • Connect with ECO
    • Join ECO
    • Volunteering & Oppurtunities
  • Contact
Donate
Click Me
Some text

This content will appear inside a popup...

ECO Member GE-Free New Zealand asks for your help

Posted on 29/04/2016
No Comments

Claire Bleakley of GE Free New Zealand has been at the annual conference for the GM Free Alliance, a group of NGOs representing Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. She has sent us this report:

GE free activists in New Caledonia have been very successful in stopping the importation of GM seeds into New Caledonia and they are looking to find places where they can access knowledge and seed for seed saving.

As the Pacific is being hit by climate disasters regularly it has been found that the indigenous small farmers are being hit hard.  Aid donors are giving them hybrid, often GMO seeds to plant for the next season.  When they are given these seeds they expect that these will be able to be saved and replanted, not realising that they are for one season only.   Local farmers have no concept of hybrid one- season seed growth and do not have the money to buy the seeds annually.    

Unfortunately there is no regulation in these countries relating to the importation of GM seeds and they often follow the US and FSANZ approval recommendation for GM foods. The conference decided that to combat this we would like to set up a support package that provides heirloom, open pollinate seeds to the islands in such disasters, as well as information on the differences between the various seeds. The islanders are mostly subsistence farmers who grow with the seasons and without chemicals.

If you or your organisation can help with know-how for seed saving and are willing to be be part of a New Zealand aid and response package for New Caledonia please contact Claire Bleakley on claire@gefree.org.nz  to discuss. Thank you!

Previous Post
New Zealand is trending towards net deforestation
Next Post
Why cigarette butts are a huge problem- and why we must do something about it.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Fill out this field
Fill out this field
Please enter a valid email address.
You need to agree with the terms to proceed

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts

  • Emerging from the Shadows: Resource Management System Reform 08/03/2022
  • ECO calls for more funding on climate action and biodiversity protection 08/03/2022
  • Importance of protecting Significant Natural Areas 05/08/2021
  • ECO calls for an end to bottom trawling on seamounts and other underwater ecosystems. 08/06/2021
  • Consultation on phasing out fossil fuels in process heat 21/04/2021

Categories

  • Agriculture and farming (2)
  • Antarctica (2)
  • Biodiversity (14)
  • Building (1)
  • Climate Change (19)
  • Conservation (14)
  • COVID (1)
  • ECO (7)
  • Fisheries (10)
  • Forestry (1)
  • Freshwater (7)
  • Genetic Engineering (2)
  • Health (3)
  • Marine (10)
  • Oceania (8)
  • Organics (1)
  • Pollution (7)
  • Resource Management Act (1)
  • Science (11)
  • Uncategorized (10)

ECO is a registered charitable entity under the Charities Act 2005. ECO was founded in 1971 as CoEnCo to meet the needs of the conservation community. We became ECO in 1976. We are a non-profit network of 50+ organizations with a concern for conservation and the environment.

Important Links

  • What We Do
  • Our Team
  • Join A Working Group
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
Donate Now

Contacts

eco@eco.org.nz
04 385-7545
Level 2, 126 Vivian St, Wellington 6011, PO Box 11-057 Wellington New Zealand 6142
Facebook
Twitter

Recent Posts

  • Emerging from the Shadows: Resource Management System Reform 08/03/2022
  • ECO calls for more funding on climate action and biodiversity protection 08/03/2022
  • Importance of protecting Significant Natural Areas 05/08/2021
  • ECO calls for an end to bottom trawling on seamounts and other underwater ecosystems. 08/06/2021
  • Consultation on phasing out fossil fuels in process heat 21/04/2021

© Copyright 2008-2021 – Environment and Conservation Organisations of New Zealand (ECO) Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Site designed & hosted by Alpharditech

Sitemap | Disclaimer