"The Greens have yet to come to terms with the fact that the world is moving on over the GM issue," ACT New Zealand Rural Affairs Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff said today.

"Even the European Union has moved recently to allow imports of GM material. While there will be no headlong rush into GM planting in New Zealand, white clover would benefit from protection from the mosaic virus which is destroying much of our grassland productivity," Mr Eckhoff said.

"Despite a rear guard action by a few dedicated souls, the benefits of this science to the human race will continue with the lifting of the moratorium. A most exciting opportunity with GM technology will be the reduction of pesticide chemicals used daily by agriculture. New Zealand must not become a scientific backwater where our best and brightest are driven overseas by those who fear the future.

"New Zealanders increasingly see the Greens as control freaks who seek to impose their very narrow view of the world on everyone else. The lifting of the moratorium in October will be greeted with a sigh of relief by all who understand that technology and science cannot - and will not - remain in a time warp," Mr Eckhoff said.