MT The debate on genetically engineered crops (the so-called "GMOs") has begun to grow up. Anti-GMO protests are fizzling.
Why?
Some consumers are embracing an emerging "geek consciousness" – a science-friendly approach that rejects unfounded attacks on basic and applied science and that emphasize knowledge-based agriculture instead of faith-based agriculture.
Also, genetic modification is no longer new. GM crops have been grown commercially around the world for more than a decade, and have been eaten by millions with no harm to human health or the environment. Scary health effects that were always the most potent fears for average consumers (though perhaps also the least credible) have failed to materialize.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/may/30/gm-debate-grown-up?…
The GM debate is growing up »
Scientists on YouTube, Frankenfood out of the headlines: Rothamsted looks like a turning point
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Respected writer Jared Diamond recently published an overall excellent opinion piece in the New York Times discussing how we often obsess about the wrong things, while failing to watch for real dangers.
Jared Diamond’s Guide to Reducing Life’s Risks - NYTimes.com.
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It seems that plant biologists just cant take the misinformation about genetics any longer. First we had the moving and informative video from the Rothamsted Research Group and now an elqouent article from two professors from Swedish agricultural university. You can read their story here: ”…
A few days ago, sent you off to vote on a debate on genetically-modified crops, a debate that has continued onwards.
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The ‘Frankenfoods’ debate is coming to your dinner table. Just last month, a mini-war developed in Europe, when the European Union’s chief scientist, renowned biologist Anne Glover, said that foods made through genetic engineering, such as soy beans—about 80 percent of US grown soybeans have been…
What the heck is faith-based agriculture? Do you mean to imply that traditional agriculture is not based on knowledge, or that modern intensive organic farming methods, since their users generally shun GMOs, are not based on knowledge? If you were to try running a farm using either traditional or modern organic farming methods, you would quickly find that possession of a large body of knowledge is merely one of the requisites for success.
Agreed, possession of a large body of knowledge is an important requisite for success. Most modern farmers, whether organic or conventional, use the best tools available to them. However, for organic ag, some of the newest tools, including genetically engineered seed, are not available to these farmers. The reason for this prohibition is not based on knowledge of sustainable agriculture