Dr. Pamela Ronald: Genetic Engineering will help us reach goal of sustainability

[Ageconomist]

@kylesan great point. @slackersdelight/ as Kyle points out, getting rid of the protections these companies have, which largely come from the excessive and costly regulatory requirements for biotech, will address your concern. I would question Pamela's integrity only if she is lobbying for more of these protections. The group you cite, while they may have special interests, are also the nations leaders in sustainable technology, and there is nothing wrong with a scientist forming an affiliation

[Kylesan90]

The current problems are not that genetic engineering is bad (it is the most powerful and effective tool to make safer, healthier, and more sustainable food), but that there are so few opportunities for small and local GE companies to arise.

Once we demonopolize the GE industry and allow there to be competitors to monsanto, we will then see GE at its best.

The combination of GE and organic farming techniques is the best hope for affordable, sustainable, healthy, and safe foods.

[slackersdelight]

CBI is the Council for Biotechnology Information whose 5 members are BASF, Dow, DuPont (Pioneer), Monsanto, and Syngenta. The fact that Dr. Ronald is shilling for these companies puts into question her motives and scientific credentials.

[iloverumi]

But GM seeds/crops do not support sustainability.

[nicolaswirth]

@iloverumi why?

[hebephoebe]

These were co-developed by scientists at Cornell University and the University of Hawaii.

The introduction of GM papaya into Hawaii was against the wishes of the majority of papaya growers...the result has been many small farmers giving up their crop as it has been difficult to sell. Organic growers have experienced massive contamination, and again have lost their livelihoods. Lack of labelling means consumers have unknowingly eaten them, and sowed seeds randomly, increasing the contamination.