Modern Luddites
Opponents of genetically engineered crops have spent much of the last decade stoking consumer distrust of this precise and safe technology, even though, as the research council’s previous reports noted, engineered crops have harmed neither human health nor the environment.
In doing so, they have pushed up regulatory costs to the point where the technology is beyond the economic reach of small companies or foundations that might otherwise develop a wider range of healthier crops for the neediest farmers. European restrictions, for instance, make it virtually impossible for scientists at small laboratories there to carry out field tests of engineered seeds.
As it now stands, opposition to genetic engineering has driven the technology further into the hands of a few seed companies that can afford it, further encouraging their monopolistic tendencies while leaving it out of reach for those that want to use it for crops with low (or no) profit margins.
Full article on genetically modified crops.
I recently read an article in the New York Times (see below) that explained how the herbicide Roundup and the genetically modified Roundup Ready crop seeds are truly a modern day miracle. About 90% of soybeans grown in the U.S. are genetically modified to tolerate the herbicide Roundup, while 70% of corn and cotton are Roundup tolerate. The increased crop yields and the amount of fuel (and ground moisture)saved by not needing to cultivate (i.e. till the weeds that grow among the cash crop) is huge.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/business/energy-environment/04weed.html
The hysteria over GMO’s reminds me of the hysteria over organic food. I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t use good science to increase our food supply. The idea that “natural” is always good for you is silly when you consider that some of the most toxic substances on earth are “natural.”
I agree they are luddites. And idiots to boot.
Of course they are Luddites. They are reactionaries, aren’t they. That is reactionaries who are fond of referring to themselves as progressives.
I saw a news story the other day claiming that 4% of our genes are Neanderthal genes. I assume that this was only an average, however. It seems obvious to me that some people got a lot more than 4%.