All good points in general. I also prefer the truth. As I was just reading
somewhere " 10 expert opinions is not worth one careful measurement". I think
there is a difference in what we expect in corn breeding, and your are
perfectly right. Pop corn won't get messed up right next to sweet corn, for
example. The problem is not what the corn looks like or one kernel out of 93,
but that 1 to 2 % in a 800 bushel truck load will probably set off the sirens.
If GMO antagonists expect to place the technology in its proper perspective,
careful measurement and objectivity is neccessary. Going off the deep-end in
making counter claims is equal to Monsanto claiming that they want to feed the
world. It also should be noted that we are entering a propaganda war with the
Biotech proponents, a subliminal, carefully orchestrated campaign to turn
public opinion. That doesn't give antagonists carte blanche to spread
disinformation, but it is tempting to fight fire with fire. In Germany, teen-
zines are amping the benefits of ag biotech, with free baubels and coupons for
GMO crackers for teens who send in answers to a questionaire. Some GE mascot
has been invented to put a cabbage patch warm and fuzzy on it.
The health claims of both sides are faulted. The key thing is that it is
pretty well understood now that this technology is not the sort of the thing
to spread over vast acreages-and if the canola wanders, and the corn
contaminates, and the cotton doesn't grow right and the lectins in the
potatoes hurt the rats and the attributes of the GMOs are found in the blood
stream, well I think anyone would say Hang On Just A Second. I thought that we
were living in the great age of viral and bacterial mutations, super flesh
eating microbes, AIDS, TB that they can't cure, BSE, and all the rest. It
doesn't seem to me that we should throw in another unknown DNA agitator just
now. On 100 million acres.
In any case, in the short term, organic farmers are going to probably be in
trouble this season as genetic analysis begins to be more common in
international trade. Our rights are being imposed upon. Consumers who want the
products labeled are having their rights imposed upon. As any marketer can
tell us, we live in an age where the consumer designs the product. Sounds odd
to say, but if you look at all the diet propaganda, the automobile
advertising, and the Audubon sponsored shade tree bird sancturary coffee being
slurped up, I think that isn't too far of the wall.
After all that Monsanto has done, who among us, having been even superficially
informed about Agent Orange, PCBs, and other products, would expect the next
product that issues from them to repay all the previous wrongs?
You don't have to be a cynic to see that this technology is mostly spin and
little truth. To paraphrase Chuck Benbrook: " If they are so proud of it why
is it such a secret?"
And why are they in such a big hurry?
Steve Sprinkel
Going to Sinsinawa
( and it looks like its going to be a mighty fine show)
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