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Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumFrankenfoods: Good for Big Business, bad for the rest of us
EDIT
You cant look at the chart and guess when GMO seeds were introduced (hint: 1996) by some huge increase in the yield curve. Certainly, its not the way you could glance at a graph of, say, the tuberculosis death rate in the 20th century and instantly identify the date antibiotics were introduced.
The commercialization of GMO seeds starting in 1996 didnt lead to any agricultural great leap forward. Its a far cry from what biotech advocates declare: that we need GMOs in order to feed a growing world population or face mass starvation.
EDIT
Benbrook observes that the growing pest and weed problems for GMOs have caused farmers to turn to seeds that are coated with a different pesticide a neonicotinoid. If that name rings a bell, its because these pesticides that have been implicated in the increasing epidemic of bee deaths. He also reveals something that I have not previously heard that there has recently been what he calls a historically unprecedented 10-fold increase in fungicide use on U.S. crop acres, most of which are planted with GMO corn and soy. So much for those GMO environmental benefits.
MORE
You cant look at the chart and guess when GMO seeds were introduced (hint: 1996) by some huge increase in the yield curve. Certainly, its not the way you could glance at a graph of, say, the tuberculosis death rate in the 20th century and instantly identify the date antibiotics were introduced.
The commercialization of GMO seeds starting in 1996 didnt lead to any agricultural great leap forward. Its a far cry from what biotech advocates declare: that we need GMOs in order to feed a growing world population or face mass starvation.
EDIT
Benbrook observes that the growing pest and weed problems for GMOs have caused farmers to turn to seeds that are coated with a different pesticide a neonicotinoid. If that name rings a bell, its because these pesticides that have been implicated in the increasing epidemic of bee deaths. He also reveals something that I have not previously heard that there has recently been what he calls a historically unprecedented 10-fold increase in fungicide use on U.S. crop acres, most of which are planted with GMO corn and soy. So much for those GMO environmental benefits.
MORE
http://grist.org/food/frankenfoods-good-for-big-business-bad-for-the-rest-of-us/
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This is actually a counterpoint to an article published in Nature that criticizes the public for mistrusting GMOs.
Personally, I think if there is any area where the scientific consensus can be considered reckless, its in genetic engineering. These people are consummate biologists when it comes to the acute manipulation of specific organisms, yet they seem to reject ecology almost entirely. Its as if being ensconced in capitalist enterprises for the most part makes researchers think the lesson of Lysenko couldn't possibly apply to them.
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Frankenfoods: Good for Big Business, bad for the rest of us (Original Post)
cprise
May 2013
OP
Is there a GM crop anywhere on the planet that promises to control every insect pest?
Buzz Clik
May 2013
#3
Buzz Clik
(38,437 posts)1. Whoops. A little fact checking is in order.
Benbrook observes that the growing pest and weed problems for GMOs have caused farmers to turn to seeds that are coated with a different pesticide a neonicotinoid.
Neonicotinoids were developed independently of GMOs. The neonicotinoids are used in much small quantities and are less toxic to mammals so were seen as an attractive alternative to pesticides in use at the time. When GMOs were released in the 1990s, neonicotinoids already were being widely used. They were NOT developed in response to "growing pest and weed problems for GMOs."
Disappointing.
cprise
(8,445 posts)2. Nonsensical criticism
The article claims that pesticide, fungicide, etc. usage with GMO crops is on a steep upward climb because the GMOs' advertised advantages don't hold true.
You should try reading more carefully yourself before telling people to fact-check.
Buzz Clik
(38,437 posts)3. Is there a GM crop anywhere on the planet that promises to control every insect pest?
Has there ever been?
cprise
(8,445 posts)4. Is there a GM crop that promised increased use of chemicals, year upon year?
Will there ever be?
Buzz Clik
(38,437 posts)5. Now you're making things up.
This is the big, big problem when people who are devoid on information on a subject try to act like experts.
You are misled. Period.
have the last word...
sikofit3
(145 posts)6. Nice Response!
NT