>> What you are implying is probably true for a few (currently
>> theoretical) situations.
> It doesn't look like a theoretical situation to me. The U.S.
> is already hugely threatened with the genetic contamination
> problem, which is why you haven't exported as much corn to
> Europe for nearly two years now.
It is a problem that has been elaborated in peoples minds. All you are
saying is that transgenics are a problem because some people think they
might be. The more fundamental issue is whether the problem is real or
simply imaginary. What I want from you is a plausible biological argument,
not a political pronouncement.
>> The truth is that these terrible life forms ARE with us,
>> but we accept them because we regard them as "natural."
> I presume you are referring here to GMOs.
No, I was referring to ordinary weeds.
> That remains to be seen. But you can't deny that genetic
> contamination is already a problem today in the U.S.
> It can only get worse.
There is no problem as far as I can tell, other than hysteria and
politicization.
> Would you agree that conditions exist for the genetic
> contamination to persist and even spread?
No, I don't. Mainly what I want from you is a biological model of how you
think this could occur. I don't think it is plausible, at least for most
GMO crops.
> Doesn't corn outcross easily because it is wind-pollinated? In
> fact, the question should be: what makes you certain no genetic
> contamination will occur?
Genetic contamination of what? Oh, you mean other corn! Do you think that
Bt corn is going to spread and become a weed? Really?
> What does Pioneer consider a minimum separation distance between
> a Bt and a non-Bt corn field to ensure contamination rates...
As I have written to you privately, Pioneer is deeply concerned with this
issue, and we are studying it vigorously (you would be awestruck at the
scale of this research). But it is purely a response to an imaginary
problem (IMO - I don't know what our official policy is!). We want to be
able to sell seed to our customers, that is genuinely non-GMO seed. These
farmer-customers need to be able to meet thresholds for genetic
contamination set by the EC. Those European consumers who care so much
about this are simply mistaken. But we can, and will provide genuinely
GMO-free seed.
Dale
PS: We would stand on our head and recite poetry to the seed if our
customers wanted that.
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