The people who think

[Saint in Paradise]

of these things are really playing strange games

 

http://www.nwrage.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=8&page=1

 

 

Just one example

 

Frog Potato

 

A chemical that South American frogs excrete from their skin could protect potatoes and other crops from a range of diseases, according to biotechnologists in Canada. Researchers at the University of Victoria inserted a modified frog gene into potato plants to make them produce the chemical. The genetically modified (GM) potatoes showed resistance to infection by a broad range of disease-causing fungi and bacteria, including those responsible for diseases such as dry rot, late blight and pink rot. Different species of frog produce different sets of chemicals, including some called dermaseptins, from their skin depending on the environmentthey inhabit. The chemicals help protect frogs from bacteria and other 'pathogens'.

[tombletomble]

The potential of GM crops are amazing. It may be one of the best bets we have to enable us to produce enough food to feed everyone on the planet.

 

Humans have been modifying the nature of crops since the green revolution 10000 years ago. Now we have the techniques to bring about even bigger changes.

 

I remember reading a few years ago about a new crop called protatoes. These are normal potatoes that have been modified so that they produce protein. These can be grown in areas of the world where people may be too poor to raise livestock and it means with one crop they can provide nearly all the nutrients they require for life. Amazing.

[Robsk II]

tombletomble, while I am not 100% against this kind of thing, I think the possiblity of everyone being gung ho and causing some large problems later down the line, for humans or the environment or both, etc, is huge.

 

Also, we could easily feed everyone in the world now, even if the population was bigger - it's the economic structure of the world that prevents that from happening, not ability to grow enough.

[tombletomble]

I agree with you Robsk that the issue has to be approached with a lot of care but it should it annoys me that so many people dismiss it out of hand with really understanding what is happening or really considering the benefits, especially to people that weren't fortunate enough to have been born in a rich country.

 

It is true that we already grow enough food for all, but remember we have to make sure all the Americans cows are well fed before we start sharing with Africa

[Robsk II]

Indeed.

[Saint in Paradise]

What about when the seed companies alter the seeds so that the resulting crop

cannot be used for seed the next season so that the people have to buy new seed rather than use what they harvest?

[tombletomble]

What about when the seed companies alter the seeds so that the resulting crop

cannot be used for seed the next season so that the people have to buy new seed rather than use what they harvest?

 

 

That's a separate issue I think but agree that its completely wrong. You have to remember as far as large corporations are concerned profits are far more important than poor people.

[Saint Martini]

That's a separate issue I think but agree that its completely wrong. You have to remember as far as large corporations are concerned profits are far more important than poor people.

 

On the other hand it prevents modified crops going wild and evolving outside controlled areas.

 

This is exactely the kind of thing that humans have to be very careful with, in the past too often we use something a lot because we can't prove it does harm at that time only to find out we damaged the environment considerably by it a few decades later.