Regarding concerns with GMO's, transgenic technology, and lack of real evidence of environmental problems. Offhand I know of at least one incidence - Bt Cotton, inserting Bt bacterial genes into cotton (patented by Monsanto as Bollgard cotton).
Bt cottonseed, genetically modified to produce its own insecticide, was introduced in India in 2002. Between 2003 and 2005, the market share of Bt seed created through collaboration between US based Monsanto Co. and several Indian companies rose to 62 percent from 12 percent = $$$$. India emerged as the dominant supplier of cotton yarn in the world. There is a problem though. The farmers in India are spreading the Bt cotton genetics to other varieties of cotton, perhaps from not understanding this new technology and also from continuing their traditional cultivation practices. So Monsanto is upset with the farmers not respecting its genetic patents. In 2006 Monsanto's monopoly over Bt cotton technology in India ended when two new players - the Hyderabad-based JK Agri-Genetics Ltd and Nath Seeds Ltd of Aurangabad, launched Bt cotton hybrids based on alternate technologies. So now there are more companies producing and patenting genetically modified cotton seeds. Roll back ten years in the US where cotton growers were using Bollgard and expecting a 95% effective control against the Boll Weevil as promoted by Monsanto. Instead they only got a 60 - 65% control on the weevils. The strength of Bt in the GM plant tissue was insufficient to kill all the beetles. Nearly 40% munched on the GMO crop and lived to reproduce their tough genetics. Michael Hansen, a research associate with the Consumer Policy Institute, described the situation as being "the quickest way to produce resistance. It couldn't have been designed any better to do away with this important tool." The US farmers went to court for false advertising, saying that the cotton wasn't living up to its promoted resistance and they were having to supplement with additional insecticide sprays. This didn't stop Monsanto from moving its product to India. Last year in India we learned that the Bt cotton is no longer living up to expectations there as well. I wonder why? The farmers there are also suing for the same reason. So, in the end what has been the overall result? A new super strain of cotton insect pests in two countries that are even harder to control than ever before. Daryl Hunter Keswick Ridge NB Canada ----- Original Message ----- From: "Philip Smith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Apple-Crop" <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2007 2:04 PM Subject: Re: Apple-Crop: Time article (More on same) Arthur, I think you have raised a central point in this debate. You are relying heavily on intuition and your own views. I'm sure that you are a smart guy and that your intuition is generally good, but the implication is that you distrust science and that you will make your choices based on what seems right to you. Were we all to adopt that approach, things would probably be chaotic and learning and understanding would not progress very well. When it came to making rules, who's opinion would we rely upon. I've often stated that I'm a huge fan of cooperative extension and the reason is that they provide guidance based on the best scientific understanding currently available. Yes, science is wrong sometimes, but that's not a reason to distrust it. I can think of no better way of deciding what is true or not than to test it scientifically even if we err on occasion.. The fact that some things smell bad is scientifically sound. Your brain is telling you to avoid eating them. Poop for example. As for your contention that organic foods taste better, I would think that it might be difficult to substantiate that based soley on the means of cultivation. And is it healthier? That remains a matter of opinion, doesn't it? Messing with the natural genetic order of things may be risky, but so is space exploration. One of the wonderful aspects of human beings is their inquisitive nature and desire to explore. Whether it's space, GMO's or stem cells, we can't stop learning. We may have difficulty deciding what to do with what we've learned, but we can't stop exploring. I wish organics would take that same approach. Right now it seems that much of discussion is based purely on what one chooses to believe. Philip Smith
