Posts: 631
Threads: 53
Joined: Oct 2006
If MONSANTO and the other GMO chemical companies were REALLY interested in solving the problem of world hunger, they would be developing crops that had a higher nutrient content, so that, for example, one head of lettuce could provide all the needed vitamins and minerals for a family of 4. Instead, they are developing crops that can survive being heavily sprayed with herbicides and pesticides (Monsanto's 'Roundup-Ready' product), square tomatoes for easier packing, produce with a longer shelf life (look nice longer but still lose nutritional content over time), etc. In fact, a large part of the world hunger problem is distribution: food send by relief agencies to countries like Somalia never reaches the starving masses, because the military commandeers the shipments and the food ends up on the black market, where only the wealthy can afford to buy.
Posts: 1,099
Threads: 6
Joined: Nov 2010
quote:
Originally posted by Rene Siracusa
If MONSANTO and the other GMO chemical companies were REALLY interested in solving the problem of world hunger, they would be developing crops that had a higher nutrient content, so that, for example, one head of lettuce could provide all the needed vitamins and minerals for a family of 4.
But this is the problem with the anti-GMO campaigners. They target
all GMOs under the presumption that it's the fact of being GMO that's bad. There are, of course, side-effect problems with some of the GMOs that have been developed by companies like Monsanto - Bt corn creating resistance in pests (a much more serious problem than pollen killing caterpillars, which got more attention), Roundup-Ready crops leading to increased herbicide use, GM salmon contaminating wild populations.
But in my experience, very few anti-GMO people actually look at them scientifically. Instead, they lump Rainbow papayas and golden rice in with everything else. And that makes it incredibly difficult for GMOs that
are for world hunger to get through.
Posts: 4,836
Threads: 83
Joined: Feb 2009
quote:
Originally posted by Bullwinkle
And we will all certainly starve if a pathogen hits one size fits all gmo crops
The issue is biological diversity and resistance to pathogens provided by different genetics in similar crops. imho
The biological diversity has been ongoing for years.Hybridizing has been ongoing for years.GMO is the next logical step.
Where do you get the information that GMO is one size fits all?
I believe it is the exact opposite.Someday a pathogen will come along that will wipe out all of the non GMO crops.If it weren't for rainbow papaya we wouldn't have papaya for export.
Posts: 4,836
Threads: 83
Joined: Feb 2009
Hey Cat
The Dinos died because a giant asteroid in conjunction with volcanic eruptions killed all of the plant life on earth.
I once froze a roach in liquid nitrogen and then put it in a microwave.
It ran around for a little while when it thawed.
Bob can tell you what happened next.
Posts: 5,640
Threads: 101
Joined: Dec 2008
It wouldn't be a major technological advance if it didn't have its own Luddites. People were scared of electricity too.
Posts: 1,099
Threads: 6
Joined: Nov 2010
quote:
Originally posted by Greg
Besides; Why are the major GMO companies not Agricultural based entities, but Chemical companies.
Monsanto has always been geared towards agricultural chemicals. Now biotech is their main business, and it's not a big jump. Calling them a "chemical company" is like calling ADM a "grain company".
quote:
Their bottom line isn't altruistically feeding the masses, but feeding their profits by making the world more dependent on their products.
Duh. Do you honestly think all the supplement makers peddling "herbal healing" at Island Naturals are doing it altruistically out of the goodness of their hearts?
Posts: 5,640
Threads: 101
Joined: Dec 2008
"one head of lettuce could provide all the needed vitamins and minerals for a family of 4"
You know what would happened if they tried to grow something like that in Pahoa? People would be breaking into the farm to torch the fields and buildings.
Posts: 2,490
Threads: 222
Joined: Dec 2005
hmmm And I was told there were no nutrients in lettuce. Go figure. Must be some sort of super food!
Posts: 5,640
Threads: 101
Joined: Dec 2008
No, that was about if they developed such a head of lettuce. Anyway, lack of vitamins is not the problem in the West, so no money to be made there.
Posts: 1,099
Threads: 6
Joined: Nov 2010
quote:
Originally posted by PaulW
"one head of lettuce could provide all the needed vitamins and minerals for a family of 4"
You know what would happened if they tried to grow something like that in Pahoa? People would be breaking into the farm to torch the fields and buildings.
They pretty much already are, albeit not in Pahoa. They've made GMO rice that produces vitamin A, but its release has been delayed for years in part by anti-GMO opposition by Greenpeace and their Indian counterparts.
