Genetically-modified foods (though in their salad days) are the subject of much debate. On the one hand, proponents assert that the technology is safe, and is necessary to maintain adequate food production and efficiency to keep pace with continued world population growth, especially in developing nations. Genetically-modified foods (ranging from corn to papayas) can be engineered to resist specific pests and thrive in previously inhospitable climates. Opponents of genetically-modified foods fear for the safety of this technology, a decrease in biodiversity, and potentially negative effects on the environment due to crop overgrowth and the advent of "super weeds".
Do you feel comfortable with this technology? What sort of safeguards would you like to see?
Thanks to Red Tory for suggesting this topic for discussion.
(See? I do read your suggestions!)
No CORNY jokes!!
11 comments:
Lettuce begin!
guess i'd better not post this again....
KEvron
on topic:
we've been "genetically engineering" our crops for millenia. hybridization and selective breeding have left us with a yield that no longer resembles the original.
wheat grain is an interesting example of this. our ancestors harvested wheat, then ground it on stone. as a result of random chance, some of those grains, having tougher husks, escaped grinding and fell to the side. these grains were then collected and planted for the next harvest. generations of this practice resulted in a grain that was sturdier than it's original. this sturdy grain benefitted the farmers, as they saw their yields increase (which, of course, benefitted the entire community, as well). in fact, the advent of civilization is closely bound to advances in agrarian techniques.
now, i'm not one to stick my head in the sand, ignoring the possible consequences which might result from the manipulation of nature (examples of the folly of the introduction of non-indigenous species are plentiful), but too many reactions to the practice seem to be of the knee-jerk variety (the term, "genetically engineered", carries with it connotations which evoke frankensteinian imagery). let's not allow emotional reactions to cloud the issue. of course, engineers must consider the possible side-effects of their manipulations, as it's in their own best interests to do so. but to dismiss the practice alltogether is to ignore immediate needs, and our own history, as well.
could i be anymore wishy-washy?!
KEvron
KEvron, I see you've managed to separate the WHEAT from the CHAFF.
I support this technology along with the safeguards in place to prevent the advent of superweeds. I don't feel that the crops in themselves are dangerous, but that they need to be grown responsibly.
There are those out there who are vehemently opposed to this technology, often in what I would consider a "chicken little" line of thinking.
could i be anymore wishy-washy?!
*ahem*
Is it me, or was it unrealistic to expect genetic and natural crops to never mix together?
crops are supposed to do what we want them to and that's make food. i'd eat my lawn if it was nutritious. people eat the most amazing crap without asking about it, nothing's killed me yet and i've horked down tons of dna without a hiccup. engineer the crops, i just want my burritos.
engineer the crops, i just want my burritos.
Especially if they can engineer those beans so they don't produce "taco farts"! That would rock!
I’m actually extremely opposed to it. Having grown up in farm country, I can easily see what changing from small family farms to corporate farming is doing to the farm land and surrounding environment. The effects of a lack of genetic diversity and increasing use of chemicals is evident all around, and it ain’t pretty. It’s also important to note that there is a difference in cross breeding plants for improved varieties, which has been going on for centuries, and genetically modifying, which goes far beyond simply creating a new hybrid. Being the tree hugging hippie that I am, I’ve been reading up on GM foods for several years and I don’t like what I’ve read, not only in terms of the dangers (increased insect mortality, viral recombination risks, increased reports of allergies, soil problems, etc.) but also in terms of what the GM food companies are doing to farmers.
Robb Fraley of Monsanto stated that the company had a goal that by the year 2000, 100% of the soy market in the US would be genetically modified Monsanto patented soy plants, modified to be resistant to Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide. I don’t know if they achieved that goal, but they’re close. Biodiversity is the cornerstone of a healthy ecology but this goal would wipe that out. What happens if they achieve that goal and then it’s discovered that the frankensoybean is susceptible to a fungus? When you destroy biodiversity you destroy the ecosystem’s ability to resist disease and to recover. Farming 101 and Ecology 101.
This also means that when farmers start using Monsanto’s seed they become tied to Monsanto. They have to spray with Roundup, and only Roundup. They have to sign contracts that they won’t sow the seeds or beans produced by their crops the following year, they instead have to buy more from Monsanto. Companies are even developing "terminator technology" to prevent new seeds germinating. - it’s a nice shakedown Monsanto has going for them. But then neighboring non-GM crops get cross pollinated with the GM crops, which changes the genetic makeup of the next generation, forcing those farmers to be increasingly dependent on the GM companies. I don’t trust companies like Monsanto to do what best for the environment or act responsibly, which clearly they don’t. In fact, I don’t trust them to act in any way which is not entirely self serving. So why should I trust them when they say that their frankenfood (yeah, emotionally charged term, whatever) is perfectly safe?
jillan,
I live in farm country too, and I know what you mean about getting tied to Monsanto. Its corporate executives sent a team out to the farm next door and locked the farmer in the cellar and didn't let him out until he sprayed everything with Roundup. His lawn looks really bad now. His crops are GM and pollen from them blew onto my organic garden and just like you said, it forced me to be increasingly dependent on GM companies. I've found bare patches in my lawn which I just know are Roundup herbicide bombs dropped by Monsanto just like they did to Percy Schmeiser. There was a suspicious-looking black helicopter flying around that I saw. I've stocked lots of food and water in my cellar for when Monsanto comes to force me to spray everything with Roundup.
It's good to hear from those in the areas affected. This is very enlightening. I definitely am not in favor of one company having a coercive monopoly over the technology.
anon,
that story's the biggest crock of shit i've heard in ages. "locked....in the cellar"! too effin funny!
KEvron
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