Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
risk analysts, the high value assigned to conventional agriculture by
defenders of national culture and national autonomy, the extremely pre-
cautionary mindset of consumers in Europe and Japan after “mad cow
disease” and other food safety incidents, exploitation of public concerns
about food safety by the media, the persistence of interest groups ded-
icated to opposing corporate-driven technologies and “Frankenfoods”
in particular, and the democratization of risk regulation, which makes it
more transparent and attentive to public opinion.
According to the corporate proponents of GM agriculture, it is
inevitable that their increasing capability to design and produce new
crops containing genetic material from diverse life forms will progres-
sively transform agriculture, the livestock and fish farming sectors of the
food system, forestry, and the downstream industries that use plants and
animals as raw materials for making a universe of processed foods, med-
ications, building materials, and many other products. GM proponents'
optimistic view, presented with supportive scientific studies and test data,
holds that the risks posed by GM crops are minimal; that managing any
residual risks will be economically and technically feasible (e.g., by main-
taining buffer zones around GM crop planting areas); and that GM crops
and foods will provide health, environmental, and economic benefits for
developed nations.
Proponents promise even greater benefits and humanitarian out-
comes for less developed and poor countries, namely the ability to ensure
reliable and sufficient food supplies to meet the needs of their grow-
ing populations by planting high-yield GM crops designed to withstand
drought, pests, and other naturally occurring agricultural adversities.
They also promise that consuming GM rice and other GM crops with
nutritional enhancements will overcome dietary deficiencies in certain
cultures and thereby eliminate the chronic illnesses caused by the tradi-
tional reliance on a single conventional crop. Proponents further claim
that more efficient production of GM crops will enable such countries to
sell surpluses in the lucrative international markets created by free-trade
treaties. Finally, they point out that growing hardy varieties of GM crops
