|
|
Post by louise on May 29, 2011 11:21:20 GMT 1
I am a whole-hearted supporter of Genetically Modified food. I think this is the only way in which we are going to be able to feed the increasing global population and I think the current scientific approach is an extension of that which has been used by farmers for generations e.g. cross breeding succesful strains, collecting and using seed from varieties with particular mutations, etc.
What do others think?
|
|
|
|
Post by nickrr on May 29, 2011 16:29:53 GMT 1
Absolutely agree.
I remember a while ago talking with one of my sisters about this. She was quite hostile to the idea but when pressed couldn't come up with any real arguments as to why.
The problem is that most people only get their information through alarmist "Frankenfoods" stories in the media.
However I have no doubt that the time for GM foods will come. In many parts of the world they are already embracing it (the Chinese spring to mind). As the technology matures, it will simply be too useful even for us in Western Europe to ignore.
|
|
|
|
Post by louise on May 29, 2011 16:48:16 GMT 1
I think that a genuine concern that some express is that many of the GM crops being developed are sterile so that farmers cannot save seed from one year to the next as they do currently and in hard times may not be able to afford to buy seed.
However, that's a policy issue not science and doesn't stop me from supporting the science of developing better and better plants and animals that are more disease, drought, etc., resistant.
|
|
|
|
Post by eamonnshute on May 29, 2011 16:54:31 GMT 1
GM may have its benefits, but I don't think solving the global food shortage is one of them. The "Green Revolution" was supposed to put an end to famine, and it certainly increased food production, but all that happened was that people were able to raise more children, so lack of food is as big a problem as ever. Until the population stops growing food production will not catch up, and I don't expect population growth to stop in the near future.
|
|
|
|
Post by louise on May 29, 2011 16:58:20 GMT 1
GM may have its benefits, but I don't think solving the global food shortage is one of them. The "Green Revolution" was supposed to put an end to famine, and it certainly increased food production, but all that happened was that people were able to raise more children, so lack of food is as big a problem as ever. Until the population stops growing food production will not catch up, and I don't expect population growth to stop in the near future. Eamonnshute - I agree with you that GM crops won't stop population growth but if we are to have any hope of feeding the future population then we will need GM foodstuffs. How to deal with population probably deserves a thread of its own. |
|
|
|
Post by eamonnshute on May 29, 2011 17:19:55 GMT 1
Eamonnshute - I agree with you that GM crops won't stop population growth but if we are to have any hope of feeding the future population then we will need GM foodstuffs. Without increased crop yields there will be hunger, but with increased yield there will still be hunger but with greater population. So using GM without limiting population growth will actually make things worse by increasing the population (unless you think that an even greater population would be a good thing, and I don't). |
|
|
|
Post by louise on May 29, 2011 18:08:35 GMT 1
I agree that population growth is unsustainable and 'something must be done about it' but this thread is about GM foods and so that subject is off topic here.
|
|
|
|
Post by StuartG on May 29, 2011 18:50:22 GMT 1
|
|
