Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
12
GENETICALLY MODIFIED
CROPS AND ANIMALS
12.1
THREE FARMERS AND THEIR CROPS
Subsistence Farmer. Donio does not plant transgenic crops. First, he does not
know what transgenic crops are. Second, even if the seeds were available, he would
be unable to afford their cost. He uses maize seed saved from his previous crop. The
idea of paying money for maize seed is strange and extravagant. Rice seed is different.
There are varieties of rice that he knows will yield more than others. Since rice is a
money-making crop, he is willing to pay a reasonable price for good seed to have
the crop shown in Figure 12.1.
Family Farmer. Octavio and A ยด da have not heard of transgenic potatoes or
maize. They use their crops primarily for feeding the family and farm animals. Their
most important commercial crop is potato. For potato they will buy seed potatoes
only if they do not have enough saved from the previous crop. Sometimes Octavio
will pay cash to buy a small quantity of seed potatoes if it is a new variety with
promise of disease or insect resistance. He usually depends on nontransgenic maize
seed saved from the previous crop shown in Figure 12.2.
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