The McGuinness Institute, a think tank in Wellington, says New Zealand should close the only two outdoor experiments in genetic modification currently underway and the nation should remain GM free while a systemic review is conducted.
Chief executive Wendy McGuinness said that, since the 2001 Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, many of the initiatives put in place as a result have been dis-established or have not progressed.
Ms McGuinness said New Zealand is now less equipped to make a strategic decision to release GMOs in the outdoors than it was a decade ago.
She said questions that need to be answered include whether there are linkages between institutions that are able to resolve systematic issues and whether there is sufficient expertise in New Zealand to undertake field tests or do releases.
Ms McGuinness said there are currently only two GM field tests underway in New Zealand - one is AgResearch looking at GM livestock and the other is pine trees.
"If you assume that those two applications were removed from the process, New Zealand would actually be GMO free, research and food production in New Zealand."
Ms McGuinness said since 1988 there have been 57 different GM applications and it's very difficult to see how any of those tests have been used to commercial benefit.
