Show Notes
In this episode, Stephen and Ewan sit down with John Carapiet from GE Free New Zealand to unpack the growing debate around genetic engineering, GMO regulation, and the future of farming in New Zealand. What begins as a discussion around the government’s proposed Gene Technology Bill and the new Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Amendment Bill quickly expands into a much bigger conversation about food sovereignty, corporate influence, farmer responsibility, environmental contamination, and the long-term future of agriculture. Through the EFA lens, the conversation explores whether New Zealand risks losing one of its greatest advantages — its GE-free food reputation — in pursuit of patented technologies and synthetic solutions. The discussion dives into soil biology, export markets, consumer trust, liability, glyphosate, animal welfare, and the growing tension between industrial agriculture and regenerative farming systems. The episode challenges the idea that more technology automatically equals better outcomes and asks a deeper question: are we solving the root causes of agricultural problems, or creating new ones? We discuss:• The proposed Gene Technology and HASNO amendment bills• Why New Zealand’s GE-free status matters globally• The difference between GMO, GE, and gene editing• Liability risks for farmers and contamination concerns• How patents and corporate interests influence agriculture• The connection between soil health, food quality, and human health• Why consumers still demand non-GMO food• The future of regenerative farming in New Zealand
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