Advisers to decide if GE onions can seed in field trials

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Environmental advisers to the regulatory watchdog which will decide whether state scientists can allow genetically engineered onions to set seed in a Canterbury field say it is "highly improbable" viable plant material will escape.

Crop and Food Research scientists want approval of a 10 year field test of GE onions, spring onions, leeks and garlic – all members of the allium family – to assess their performance and environmental impact in the field.

The Environmental Risk Management Authority's officials yesterday released an evaluation and review report on the application, advising on controls that could be placed on such testing.

The application is novel because the scientists want permission to allow GE onions to flower in the field, covered by cages. At any one time, a maximum of 2.4 hectares of GE alliums will be planted.

Erma's officials said the onions would have to be covered with pollination cages and that insects placed in the cages to pollinate the flowers should not be allowed to escape alive.

"Should this application be approved, the proposed field test would pose a negligible risk on the environment, human health and safety, the relationship of Maori to the environment, society and the community and the market economy," the agency said.

A hearing committee led by the authority's chairwoman, Helen Atkins, is due to hear public submissions in Christchurch on August 12. The authority will later decide on the application.

Dr Geoff Ridley, of Erma, said the report released yesterday was based on information from the application, additional research, and public submissions.

The researchers want to test crops in the onion family engineered for herbicide tolerance, resistance to disease-causing fungi, bacteria and viruses, and resistance to insect pests. They also want to test plants engineered for altered colour, sweetness, pungency, health and flavour, and to try chemically inducing the plants to flower.