Posts by Steffan Browning

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  A pig of a decision - by Steffan Browning

  
  
  
  The High Court last week upheld MAF’s (now MPI’s)  decision-making processes for deciding on new import standards. This means that the import of untreated pig meat from countries infected with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) will be allowed. This is a major issue for New Zealand Pig Farmers. The Green Party has long held [...] read more
  May 7, 2012 6:26 pm - 5 Comments
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  Monitoring of GE: a reason for mistrust - by Steffan Browning

  
  
  
  During the Easter break, the 375 genetically engineered pine trees at the Scion field trial site were destroyed. The current experiments were for herbicide resistance and reproductive alterations, both with potential environmental and human health implications. read more
  April 17, 2012 4:55 pm - 20 Comments
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  Breaking the consensus – marine farming - by Steffan Browning

  
  
  
  A major reason I became politically active was aquaculture in the Marlborough Sounds. I could see new farms popping up all over the place with no overall plan. My first Environment Court appeal (which was successful), Browning vs Marlborough District Council (W20/97), made case law in terms of protection of areas of high natural character, [...] read more
  April 10, 2012 4:19 pm - No Comments
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  Supporting the co-operative model - by Steffan Browning

  
  
  
  I had the opportunity yesterday to speak about an issue quite dear to my heart. The government, supported by the Fonterra board, is pushing through changes to Fonterra. The Government changes focus around transparency in the process of how the milk price that farmers receive is set. More importantly, they are also allowing for fundamental [...] read more
  April 4, 2012 11:26 am - 4 Comments
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  Food Bill update - by Steffan Browning

  
  
  
  I have been busy attending and hosting meetings around the country about the food bill. While there is some unintentional misinformation circulating, there are many valid concerns about the bill. We do need rules to protect people from unsafe food, but not at the expense of a diverse and resilient food supply or civil liberties. [...] read more
  March 15, 2012 10:10 am - 2 Comments
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  The Food Bill, not as sweet as first appeared - by Steffan Browning

  
  
  
  A culture of home gardening, food sharing and small artisan producers are at risk of being suppressed by future Ministerial decree. The Food Bill, supposedly intended to reduce compliance costs for the food industry, while eventually reducing the incidence of food borne illness, has such sweeping powers that best intent could be lost under bureaucratic pressure. [...] read more
  January 18, 2012 9:10 am - 8 Comments
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  Secrecy around animal experiments must stop - by Steffan Browning

  
  
  
  The closing down of Valley Animal Research Centre’s (VARC) experimental beagle operation must be just the beginning of closing down inhumane animal experiments throughout New Zealand. The last available statistics (2010) show that at least 56,208 animals suffered medium to very high impact in New Zealand animal experiments in just one year. Secrecy around animal [...] read more
  December 8, 2011 10:00 am - 5 Comments