The concept of Genetically Modified (GM) seeds and organisms is nothing new as the first were created in 1970. As with most scientific advances, the concept starts out as a great idea and a benefit for mankind. The ability for genetic engineers to make seeds resilient to disease, bugs and pesticides at first glance seems like it could be nothing but a positive step forward in health and food production.
However, on closer inspection, genetic engineering brings with it some negatives as well. Opponents of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) are learning almost daily of new “horrors” that are resulting from these unrestrained practices. Most people are likely familiar with commercially available grains that go by the name “Roundup Ready”. These grains have been modified to accept the application of the weed killer “Roundup” directly onto the growing crop, and kill off all weeds without affecting the crop planted. Similar commercial products also resist insects and insecticides, as well as fungus and other herbicides that would otherwise kill the crop.
Proponents of these crops, and manufactures such as Monsanto, think that GMOs are not only revolutionizing modern farming as we know it, but beneficial for mankind in producing heartier more resilient food sources. Monsanto, the world’s largest agriculture bioengineering facility, producer of herbicides such as Roundup and Bovine Growth Hormones (BGH) have come under serious scrutiny and continued flak for their perceived “strong arm” tactics and aggressive litigation and lobbying in Congress.
For or against GMOs, new evidence is surfacing that is hard for proponents to ignore. Many of the side effects of genetic modificiation of crops is being seen in allergies and other reactions to crops when consumed. In some cases, grains engineered for livestock feed are mistakenly being introduced into consumer markets, which raises alarms for people concerned about inadequate testing of side effects and long term dangers. On more local levels, there is continued evidence of cross-pollination with nearby “natural” crops that end up destroying the natural crop field, or worse yet, creating hybrid strains of “super weeds” that are resilient to pesticides and herbicides. The fear is these mutations will continue along until new strains of bacteria, organisms, and predators will be created with no known way to prevent their spread, and eventual takeover of natural organisms and crops. Similar issues have been seen as some GM crops with built in insecticide are creating insects resilient to Bt, the main enzyme in insecticide
“ Mad Soy Disease ” is an example of this very fear coming to light. Much like the notorious “Mad Cow Disease” after which this pandemic is named, scientists have no known cure for this disease, and farmers are finding it affecting more then 40% of their yields in many cases. Brazilian farmers are watching this disease spread through soybean fields in the north, and work its way to the more temperate climates in the south, where it is much more difficult to combat. The soybeans affected by Mad Soy Disease grow like normal soybeans, yet they never reach maturity. The leaves will thin, and the stalks will thicken. Both plants and pods will deform, as bean counts are significantly reduced. The plants will stay green and eventually rot in the ground on the stalk. Since these so closely mimic the healthy plants until later stages, there is no way for farmers to cull the diseased plants early enough in the growth cycle.
In more disturbing recent news, UK geneticists with the company Oxitec, have taken a page right out of the movies, and possibly an Orwellian thriller novel. In an effort to combat Dengue Fever, Oxcite engineers, along with the Cayman Islands' Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU), released over 3 million GM mosquitoes on to Grand Cayman over the course of the year. The Orwellian twist is they publicized their actions internationally only last month — a full year after the first GM mosquitoes were released into the wild. Similar to the “Lysine Contingency” concept in the movie Jurassic Park, these GM male mosquitoes larvae will die without the introduction of the antibiotic tetracycline. Jeff Goldblum’s prophetic words about “life finding a way” turned out tragically for the heroes on the silver screen, let's hope they don’t ring as true in real life.
Combining these new discoveries with aggressive lobbying campaigns from the GMO manufacturers, people worry that companies like Monsanto, DuPont, and Dow Chemicals will have controlling interest in the food supply if bills such as Senate Bill S.510 pass through and become law. Since there are so many variables and areas that just aren’t known, even by these genetic engineering firms own admission, it seems reckless at best to proceed forward with these types of modifications until reasonable time, testing and knowledge have been gathered on all variables to ensure the safety of the population and the planet. The concept of engineering our own plague has long been a novelist’s topic of choice, it seems we might be on the verge of that very thing if we don’t exercise some caution
"But we realize that with any new and powerful technology with unknown, and to some degree unknowable - by definition - effects, then there necessarily will be an appropriate level at least, and maybe even more than that, of public debate and public interest." Bob Shapiro, Chief Executive of Monsanto
Russell Miller - My head is stuffed with so many useless facts, I am a treasure trove of pointless information.
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