Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Opposition often rests on individual beliefs, not on science-based evidence. And to
support particular beliefs, scientific evidence is purposefully misconstrued or outright
lies are perpetrated, as in the case of the “terminator” technology. This technology has
never been commercialized and is not in use anywhere in the world. Despite this verifi-
able fact, even well-informed individuals believe it is being used and continue to per-
petuate the lie. In the face of this type of resistance and misinformation, there will never
be sufficient evidence of “no harm” that will convince detractors.
So why do those in the anti-GM movement appear so “uncompromising” and vit-
riolic? It may be that the deck, especially in the United States, appears stacked against
them; and many perceive no avenue by which their freedom of choice and economic
security can be assured. The US regulatory system clearly embraces the technocentric,
agri-industrial paradigm of production and does not seem disposed to develop robust
coexistence measures to protect organic and non-GM producers from either the gene
flow or the adventitious presence that potentially endangers their industries. Yet, the US
organic industry prefers the government stay out of it and allow the third-party system
implemented by the Non-GMO Project to work.57
Many of the issues presented here will only magnify with many of the GM products
now in the pipeline, including plants that produce pharmaceuticals or industrial prod-
ucts and transgenic animals and fish. Given our obvious inability to prevent either gene
flow or adventitious presence in the commodity supply chain, we might reconsider—
as a global society—whether crops that produce products with mammalian activity
should be used in open agricultural systems. While currently commercialized GM
crops do not present specific biosafety hazards, each new venture that delves deeper
into the genetic engineering of new traits will need rigorous oversight, backed by solid
research. How this research will affect farming is, of course, a question of politics, not
of science.
Notes
1.
http://www.libertyindia.org/events/bullshit_award_28august2002.htm
. Accessed 7/7/14.
2.
Bacillus thuringiensis
(Bt) is a soil bacterium that produces an insecticidal protein specific
to certain classes of insects; some target the Lepidoptera, some target the Coleoptera, and
others target the Diptera. The gene has been introduced into the genome of several com-
modity crops, herein also called GM or transgenic crops.
3.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_low
. Accessed 7/7/14.
4. Genes that are transferred from one species to another by genetic engineering.
5. Although organic farmers use
natural
products, this does not imply they are “safe.” Many
of these products can also be highly toxic to humans and wildlife, yet they are not as tightly
regulated as synthetic pesticides.
6.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/organicstats.shtml
. Accessed 7/7/14.
7.
http://afsic.nal.usda.gov/
. Accessed 7/7/14.
geninfo
.
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