A survey has found that farmers are as firmly opposed as the rest of the community to the genetic engineering of animals.
The Colmar Brunton poll of more than 1,000 people was commissioned by the Soil and Health Association and animal advocacy organisation SAFE.
It found that 27% of New Zealanders and 28% of farmers support genetic engineering of animals.
Six out of ten farmers, or 61%, said they did not support GE.
The two organisations that commissioned the poll, along with GE Free New Zealand and the Green Party, mounted campaigns last month to oppose four applications submitted by AgResearch to conduct broad-ranging genetic research and the commercialisation of the GE of animals.
The groups warn that the applications threaten New Zealand's clean green image and could result in potentially catastrophic environmental disasters in addition to animal suffering.
