Is it fair to say that another aspect the article seemed to skip over is the potential for genetic modification, gene drives and so on for possible pest control strategies? Something like Crispr wasn't even a concept in 1996 when the current legislation was passed.

NZ has some unique pest problems that are likely to need local research for some of the specifics which might be really really useful here in future, but my understanding is that current GMO-blocking legislation kind of knee-caps a lot of that possible research beyond a certain point and makes it really hard, or impossible.

It might be that it's still appropriate to keep those restrictions in place because these are big decisions with potentially big consequences, or not, but I think it's something that also needs consideration alongside the food angle.

[–] RaoulDuke 3 points 1 year ago

Yeah, I think genetic modification will play a big role in NZ's pest strategy at some point in the future. I doubt the technology's ready yet, especially when it comes to mammals. But it might not be too long until we're able to do something like the stuff they're doing with mosquitoes in the US at the moment.