Biotech crops face uncertain future

It is sometimes difficult to separate individual's health issues from national or global political goals.  It appears to me that the various organizations work hard to keep it that way.



I remember when our sons both declared they were vegetarians.  They said they wanted to "save the planet" by not eating meat, or meat products. So then all of the sudden they would no longer eat foods that might have a little meat broth in it?  Wouldn't eat any products containing gelatin?  This wasn't a "health" issue, where they might suddenly go into anaphylactic shock if they accidentally ate a very small amount of the a meat product.  I can understand how if the world reduced its consumption of meat, there would be much less pressure on the environment, partially mitigate the effects of global warming (less methane from cattle, for example) and maybe improve the health of humans.  However, worrying about small amounts of meat or meat products starts bordering on religion.



I often wonder if the movement against "genetically modified" crops is somewhat the same way.  There are some serious concerns about growing the GM foods.  By moving towards a GM "monoculture" the world is at risk if a serious disease attacked it.  For example the potato famines, or what is currently happening to bananas.  There are also legitimate concerns about the spread of GM genes getting spread into the wild where they could increase the resistance of weeds to herbicides, make insects resistant to insecticides, or contribute to the extinction of species of other wildlife that we want to protect.  However there is no convincing evidence that eating GM foods, particularly plant crops, can affect our health.  However the groups that are fighting against the GM crops have nuanced their advertising to make many individuals believe that eating those crops will make them sick.  Once seeds of those doubts are planted in the minds of particularly "non-technical" people, it is difficult to change their mind.



GMO opposition Creates Uncertainty for Farmers





Biotech crops face uncertain future | Truth About Trade & Technology:



It is clear that the GM food battle is similar to the global warming battle.  Both sides are spreading fear and uncertainty.  However, as in real war, it is very inexpensive to perform a terrorist-style attack, but very expensive to defend against it.  The GM food "terrorists" find it very easy to plant a few seeds of uncertainty about the use of GM foods, and it forces the industry to fight back by using immense amounts of research and publicity.  And, even then, because the defense arguments become complex and scientific, most of the readers don't understand, or don't want to understand what they say.

The global warming argument is similar.  Only a few scientists have posed generally weak or incomplete arguments against the global warming theories.  However those few scientists have been given "equal time" by the press, and have sowed enough doubt to prevent the world from making much progress against a serious global problem.