Food for thought…

Elements of genetic engineering; Source: Wikipedia

I came across an extremely interesting programme on BBC2, called Horizon.

 

This week, it covered the pros and cons of cultivating Genetically Modified (GM) crops and was presented by scientist-turned-farmer, Jimmy Doherty.

 

GM to the rescue!

 

·         It is a powerful technology that could be used to create crops that produced higher yields, boosting food production.

·         It could create crops that are resistant to drought, preventing famines.

·         The main beneficiaries of GM: farmer’s and seed companies.

·         Scientists believe that a GM disease-resistant tree could protect Uganda’s vital banana crops, which are under attack from a rampant disease, saving people from dying of starvation.

·         GM soya beans have become Argentina’s biggest export, almost single-handedly rescuing the country from economic meltdown.

·         In Pennsylvania, farmers grow a variety of corn that produces its own insecticide.

 

 

 

 Too risky, perhaps?

 

·         Some believe GM to be a dangerously untested science that threatens environmental disaster.

·          Small-scale farmers have been facing a reduction in land size, as GM mega-farms work best when grown on a large scale.

·         Vast areas of natural forests are being cleared for the exact same reason mentioned above.

·         Genetically modified genes may spread into other non-GM crops, as a result of gene-flow. On a large scale, this would imply that no crop would be GM free.

·         The above would be bad news for conventional and organic farmers, who grow crops au natural. There wouldn’t be a choice for people who don’t want to eat GM food.

 

 

Although Doherty did portray a balanced account of events, the programme failed to offer any real answers.

 

What I did gather however, was that research into GM must continue as it could possibly benefit us in the future.

 

It still needs to undergo years and years of testing, before we can remotely begin to comprehend the world of GM.