Ruakura transgenic cattle research awaits approval

AgResearch wants to boost its genetic engineering programme for cattle at Ruakura, but is facing delays in its bid for approval.

AgResearch will have to wait till after April before it knows if its genetic engineering (GE) programme for cattle will continue.

The transgenic herd of about 100 cows in secure facilities at the research organisation's Ruakura campus, near Hamilton, needs approval from the Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma). The authority has yet to confirm a date for a hearing for submissions, but it is likely to be no earlier than April.

AgResearch has applied to continue the existing programme at Ruakura and introduce new developments such as modifying new species and entering talks with the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry and regional councils to set up more containment facilities.

Science and technology manager Dr Jimmy Suttie said the research organisation understood the reasons for the delay.

"April is much later than we thought and there are some issues relating to that," Dr Suttie said.

"Working through these submissions is a lot of work for Erma and we understand that. Mid-2009 is when we are looking for a decision."

Since 2000 AgResearch has modified the genes of cows with other genetic material so that they can produce extra casein, human myelin basic protein (hMBP) and human lactoferrin. To produce human proteins in milk, human genes were introduced.

This ability to manufacture expensive medicines through the milk of genetically modified cows is one of the main reasons scientists are interested in GE.

Dr Suttie said the transgenic cattle offered a cost-effective way of providing vaccines and medicines for human diseases, such as diabetes, growth-hormone deficiencies, cancer and hepatitis, and for rare diseases such as Pompe disease, which affects too few people worldwide for biopharmaceutical companies to set up expensive factories. "We have an opportunity to help some sick people," Dr Suttie said.

AgResearch believes the new technology needs to be researched, and if it is not done here, New Zealand will lose out to agricultural competitors who are already working in many cases with GE animals and crops.

About 80 per cent of the world's soyabeans are genetically modified, and GE grains are fed to livestock in the European Union, the Americas and Asia. Scientists hope to produce disease and parasite-resistant animals and lower emissions of methane and nitrous oxide.

Society had to debate New Zealand's role in GE, and the final decision rested with New Zealanders through Erma, said Dr Suttie. "It's AgResearch's view that we are not the proponents of genetic modification. We are not saying New Zealand has to do this. We are providing the tools for the toolbox."

Existing approvals end this year and in 2010.

The Government has told research scientists they should proceed with caution. The Press

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