Hi Bart,
Monday, March 13, 2000, 10:43:24 AM, you wrote:
BH> I would suggest (for purposes of discussion) that we ought to
BH> consider certain categories of GMOs acceptable, right from the
BH> start:
BH> a) all *intra*-species transfers
BH> b) all GMO fermentation technology
BH> c) probably ... intra-genus transfers
I would suggest (for purposes of discussion and prudence) that we
*shouldn't* consider certain categories of GMOs acceptable in
agriculture, right from the start. A case by case approach seems more
responsible to me.
BH> My logic is that there is little risk from any of these categories,
Not yet supported by evidence.
BH> the chief benefits being relative speed of some transfers and the
BH> avoidance of undesired secondary characteristics.
Making them lesser but by no means necessary, evils?
BH> For example, there is probably some BB-sized tomato somewhere in Peru
BH> that carries Alternaria resistance. It would probably be many many
BH> generations before the size problem is overcome via conventional
BH> breeding, during which time the normal spray routine in Florida would
BH> remain 25-45 fungicide applications in a 26-week production cycle (one
BH> per week, routine, plus one after each rainfall of an inch or more). As
BH> organic fungicides are at least as bad as the conventional ones, such a
BH> GMO transfer offers substantial benefit.
Given your scenario, your conclusion is logical. Trouble is, too much
of it's imaginary. First let's find the tomato that carries Alternaria
resistance.
BH> If anyone knows of risks associated with intra-species (or intra-genus)
BH> GMOs, please educate us.
The research much be done. Meanwhile, only highly controlled releases
should occur (if any).
BH> At least for now, I'm not convinced that GMOs in these situations
BH> are any worse than routine use of colchicene to trigger genetic
BH> mutations in conventional breeding.
Perhaps (no one knows that yet). But the routine use of colchicene to
trigger genetic mutations in conventional breeding is more an
indictment of "conventional" breeding methods than an adequate
justification for the use of GMOs. Why sell yourself short?
Douglas
To Quote E. Ann Clark on is thread:
EAC> Thinking and working holistically is, after all, the real
EAC> underpinning and strength of organic farming, at least in my
EAC> opinion.
Shared.
To Unsubscribe: Email majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu with the command
"unsubscribe sanet-mg". If you receive the digest format, use the command
"unsubscribe sanet-mg-digest".
To Subscribe to Digest: Email majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu with the command
"subscribe sanet-mg-digest".
All messages to sanet-mg are archived at:
http://www.sare.org/san/htdocs/hypermail
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Apr 05 2000 - 20:00:27 EDT