Quote of the Day: David Suzuki on Genetically Engineered Crops
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 08.31.07
We have been told that genetically engineered (GE) material just disperses in nature, but in fact, it is remarkably permanent. Biologically engineered genes and DNA have been found to persist in soil organisms, in insects, pollen, and especially water, and have been found in agricultural ditches as much as a kilometer from the original site. The antibiotic-resistant marker genes used in the process have survived digestion by cattle and even bees, and therefore post a threat of increased antibiotic resistance up and down the food chain. This is one reason why the technology is under a de facto ban in Europe. The genes themselves are not confined to the original, patented plant, but can be spread by wind or pollen to other varieties of the same crop, and even to wild relatives.
Canada is already having tremendous problems with genetically engineered canola, which has not only spread its herbicide-resistant trait to other canola, but is now affecting its many wild relatives, creating what are being termed "super weeds." The situation is so serious that one reason the Canadian Wheat Board is actively fighting the introduction of herbicide-resistant GE wheat, apart from market considerations, is that the species has many wild relatives that could forever become contaminated with herbicide resistance."
—David Suzuki and Holly Dressel, Good News for a Change: How Everyday People are Helping the Planet (2003, Greystone Books)
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I agree entirely with the potential risk of GMOs. However, until such time as we, the human race, co-determine that a "real" change in how we co-habitate planet earth (not only with ourselves but all other organisms) is paramount, bureaucracy and the all mighty dollar will contiune to dominate society as a whole. The Catch 22 is, they stopped making land a long time ago. With continued urban sprawl, industrialization, and and ever growing population worldwide evidently requiring/demanding "cheap food," something's gotta' give. It's a vicious circle- use of say, GM wheat strains, may increase the profitability of a farmer by decreasing input costs (less trips over the field), etc., which coincidentally reduces fossil-fuel usage during procurement/harvest of crop, which may be positioned as a potential up-side. Reduced input cost = a greater return when competing within the economy, whether local or global. Perhaps continued R&D, awareness and education of public at large by such entities as The Discovery Channel/Treehugger, will serve as the catalyst for creation, stiumulating a paradigm shift by those empowered worldwide to implement and determine the "lesser of evils", "the greater good" and acceptance by all. Surely there must be a better determinant for policy than dividend returns!
I'll step down off the soapbox now.
I agree 100%
Until it is cheaper to make our food in total isolation from nature, nature will continue to die.
So how do we encourage accelerated R&D in food crops?
If we keep avoiding the catch 22, we'll continue racing to the crash; It's a race no matter how we approach it. Hopefully enough $$ will keep racing for compressed space and efficiency in agriculture.