Ahead of hearings early next year for four applications by the Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) to continue research at its Hamilton containment farm, AgResearch has made no secret it wanted to dispel what it called misinformation from opponents of the science.
AgResearch's applied biotechnologies manager Jimmy Suttie said in the eight years it has undertaken genetic modification (GM) research, there had been no sign of horizontal gene transfer, where genes change form, and no harm to the cattle, as opponents have alleged.
"We can't defend science with emotion; we have to give a straightforward account of what is happening," he said.
Dr Suttie said the science could potentially enhance the environment by reducing methane from animals, and the volume of phosphorous excreted through animal faeces; improving animal health, and developing new pasture species which needed less phosphate, nitrogen and water.
AgResearch has made four applications to the authority to continue its research, but also seeks to work with other ruminant and experimental species, and to enter discussions with other regional authorities, and iwi, to set up new GM research containment facilities in New Zealand.
"These facilities may be at a scale sufficient for commercial biopharmaceutical production," said Dr Suttie.