Marketing Genetically Modified Crops - Pamela Ronald

[Gatodefelix]

Opponents of GMO hold double standards.

People undergo genetic modification all the time. DNA from donor organs is inserted into a living organism to promote better functionality. A new heart, lung, bone marrow, blood, etc...all foreign DNA.

[hebephoebe]

@Gatodefelix And those people have to have medication for the rest of their lives as their bodies are constantly fighting the 'alien' introduced parts. Organ transplants do not change the DNA of the body, and the body has ways to recognise these new parts, hence the rejection.

In a similar way, when foreign GM DNA is transferred from one species into an unrelated species it takes up residence and promotes the trait that it is chosen to do but nobody is testing to see what other changes occur.

[TheRivetthead]

gmo can kill you

[Gatodefelix]

@TheRivetthead so can non GMO peanut, wheat and soy allergies. So can driving a car or smoking.

[myndy86]

"GM-fed mice of all ages considered, the number of perichromatin granules is higher and the nuclear pore density lower.""we found enlargements in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum in GM-fed mice Sertoli cells." ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/ ­15718213?dopt=Abstract&holdin­g ­=f1000,f1000m,isrctn "our data suggest that GM soybean intake can influence hepatocyte nuclear features in young and adult mice" ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/ ­12441651?dopt=Abstract&holdin­g ­=f1000,f1000m,isrctn

[myndy86]

"Several convergent data appear to indicate liver and kidney problems as end points of GMO diet effects in the above-mentioned experiments. This was confirmed by our meta-analysis of all the in vivo studies published, which revealed that the kidneys were particularly affected, concentrating 43.5% of all disrupted parameters in males, whereas the liver was more specifically disrupted in females (30.8% of all disrupted parameters)." enveurope"dot"com/content/23/1 ­/10

[myndy86]

"We observed that after the consumption of MON863""Chemistry measurements reveal signs of hepatorenal toxicity""Triglycerides increased by 24-40% in females (either at week 14, dose 11% or at week 5, dose 33%, respectively); urine phosphorus and sodium excretions diminished in males by 31-35% (week 14, dose 33%)""with the present data it cannot be concluded that GM corn MON863 is a safe product." ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/­17356802?dopt=Abstract&holding­=f1000,f1000m,isrctn

[myndy86]

"Diets containing genetically modified (GM) potatoes expressing the lectin Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) had variable effects on different parts of the rat gastrointestinal tract. Some effects, such as the proliferation of the gastric mucosa,were mainly due to the expression of the GNA transgene." thelancet"dot"com/journals/lan­cet...7/abstract "The GM-fed D. magna had lower survival (lx) than the UM-fed D. magna throughout the experiment" ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/­PMC2811247/

[myndy86]

The American Academy of Environmental Medicine(AAEM) website states

"There is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects."

"The strength of association and consistency between GM foods and disease is confirmed in several animal studies."

"Also, because of the mounting data, it is biologically plausible for Genetically Modified Foods to cause adverse health effects in humans." aaemonline"dot"org/gmopost.htm­l

[myndy86]

@Vengeance4Me79 I didn`t mean to seem as though I was attacking your intellect. I just didn`t want people to get the impression that only the wealthy can convert to organic. I do understand organic diners etc. are not available in some areas. Please forgive me if I offended you.

[myndy86]

@Vengeance4Me79 It's not a debate. You said "Unless you go to a restaurant where it costs $50 per meal, all restaurants (including fast foods) use GMO's." which means you either lied, made a mistake or your primary school was so dumbed down as a kid that you don't know the difference between "all" and "some". I don't eat tofu or attack meat eaters etc. I am not wealthy and I pay LESS for most organic food than I would if I bought conventional food because I belong to an organic co-op.

[myndy86]

@Vengeance4Me79 You specifically said " Unless you go to a restaurant where it costs $50 per meal, all restaurants (including fast foods) use GMO's." Had you said the only place around me that serves organic costs $50 per meal then I wouldn't have disagreed.

[myndy86]

@CouldNotCareLes Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Charles F. Chilcutt of Texas A&M University`s Texas Agricultural Research 7 Extension Center Corpus Christi "So he tested those yellow kernels for the Bt toxin and found it in high levels."

[myndy86]

@Vengeance4Me79 This is false. There are about a dozen organic restaurants in my area and none of them cost $50 per meal. An entire family can eat at Pizza Fusion(an organic pizza place) for $20.

[joein1972]

GMO is for population reduction Labels should be mandatory GMO food contains way more pesticide people need to be warned

[CouldNotCareLes]

@joein1972 - GMO food does not contain pesticide.

Les

[myndy86]

@CouldNotCareLes Many GM foods DO CONTAIN PESTICIDES! Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a soil bacterium that produces insecticidal toxins. Genes from Bt can be inserted into crop plants to make them capable of producing an insecticidal toxin and therefore resistant to certain pests. There are many GM crops with Bt genes inserted into them, Bt corn, Bt soy, Bt canola, Bt cotton etc.

[CouldNotCareLes]

@myndy86 Bt naturally inhabits the lower areas of those same plants, it naturally occurs in dark plant tissue everywhere.

The genetic modification allows it to occur in greener tissue and thus in areas such as the shank of the ear where insects do their damage.

I doubt Bt is going to be in the kernels of plants.

Les

[CouldNotCareLes]

Everyone should know that fast food is GMO ... why label it?

You get what you ask for.

Les

[hydrobot2003]

"EFF" GMO foods!!  Everything... even fast food should come with a label of what the hell you are eating! No Exceptions!!

[CouldNotCareLes]

I take that last part back ... the only fat people in Europe are the American tourists.

Les

[HerrSpieldose]

or what about cans with bisphenol-A??

[2012stargirl]

.. A secret government who so happen to belong to a corrupt form of freeMASONRY cult are behind GMO foods .You will find the word "mason" in Monsanto they are also located in MASON city Iowa!!.They are also behind, water fluoridation, chemtrails, food additives dumped in our food, vaccination program ,+ pharmaceuticals.This is a genocide program to reduce the worlds population- designed to give you cancer!..watch- Esoteric Agenda and The Dawn of a New Day by Jordan Maxwell..-youtube movies!

[nsgre1]

her brain is all gmo ppl.......

[RandyBful1]

It's not complicated at all! GMOs are poison! The corporations control all the government agencies and there will NEVER be more information on the label. There will be LESS! Monsanto said so, themselves: "If we label products GMO, nobody would buy them". Health Canada is being pressured (and bought off) to ban labelling, completely! They also want to ban all Health Supplements, in case you weren't aware. Big Pharma wants to feed us "synthetic" vitamins! Death to the corporations and Big Pharma!

[abhinavgupta05]

GM Food is injurious to health, environment, people and our future generations. Spread the knowledge about this by adding more friends and sharing knowledge with them. He who controls the food controls the entire world. This is a new method for world supremacy. It is better because it does not involve guns and war. Join this group on Facebook and spread the awareness. The group's name is SAY NO TO GM FOO

[hebephoebe]

This woman eats organic food grown by her organically farming husband that is also fed to their children....i bet she does not even have processed GM corn/canola/soy or cotton seed oil anywhere near her kitchen!

[RandyBful1]

hebephoebe: Nice to know at least ONE other person is awake enough to know the top four GMOs. I refuse to buy ANYTHING that contains any one of them! Even at a local "Health Food" store, they have "Organic" bread and other items that contain Canola oil. I've asked them; How can you claim the product is organic, when 100% of Canadian canola is GMO? They really stumble on THAT one!

[hebephoebe]

@RandyBful1 Thanks Randy. Not sure where you live but I'm from Western Australia where the gutless state government have just voted in GM canola, despite overwhelming opposition from consumers and the majority of farmers. Big moneyand Big Biotech have bought them out and paved a path that we all have to put up with now.Not the we'll ever know, as lack of labelling protects them and keeps it all hidden from us, while they reap the profits from their well kept secret!

[RandyBful1]

I live in Canada and 100% of our canola is GMO! I've been trying to tell people for a long time, that if this keeps up, there will be no REAL food left...and we're almost there! Part of the problem is that every single agency around the globe has been paid off by criminal corporations like Monsanto; and Big Pharma, like GSK!!!

[coconutfishcurry]

@hebephoebe

".i bet she does not even have processed GM corn/canola/soy or cotton seed oil anywhere near her kitchen! "

And you knwo this how???

Read her book. She gives recipes to make dishes with GE canola, GE papaya , GM corn and mutant sticky rice. These are recipes she makes in her own kitchen.

I am assuming you only wear organic cotton sold in the US is from GM cotton. Non GM cotton is even worse since its sprayed with the largest amount of pesticides.

[hebephoebe]

@coconutfishcurry I'd be surprised if what she writes in her book is what she actually feeds her kids. However, with an organically farming husband there is a conflict of ethics there that most people would see.

As for GM cotton, isn't it awful that there have been no animal or human trials to see if it is safe to eat/wear. Why should GM crops and foods receive such oversight..take SmartStax for example..it contains EIGHT inserted genes, yet has not had any testing. We are the guinea pigs now.

[Nuiceltico]

The woman is a huge fraud , so disingenous using the apologist argument of the PR companies.The system is certainly broken . Rogue companies like Monsanto promote genetic engineering of our staple foods in it's present hyped secretive commericalised model !! Long term "food reform" ( from pesticide/fossil fuel back to real sunshine ) on many levels including proper transgenic labelling. It's inexpensive to label our food staples.

[nastymushroom]

shame on you

[lepusforamen]

Pure garbage.

Apparently industry has licked it's wounds only to return with an improved language architecture set on deceiving the public on these issues.

[hebephoebe]

GM labelling should be mandatory. We have the right to decide if we want to support this industry from the 'paddock to the plate'. Personally I do not want to eat GM foods because I do not trust an industry that is self-regulating and does not welcome independent research to take place. The whole GM system is fraught with problems from segregation, contamination, patent and ownership, liability, and health and safety. There are no long term benefits, but the long term problems could be immense.

[CouldNotCareLes]

@hebephoebe - You do have the right to choose to not purchase fast food, prepared/packaged foods, microwaveable foods, low fat, fortified foods ... buy fresh food and prepare it yourself and you will avoid GMOs.

Or better yet, grow your own food and you will know what you are eating.

If you depend on others to bring you food, you shouldn't complain about how they bring it to you.

Les

[hebephoebe]

@CouldNotCareLes I agree that growing your own food, and avoiding processed foods is a way to avoid GM, but GM canola is a massive threat to our vegetable growers as being a brassica it easily crosses with plants such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower etc. So even by growing your own foods you could still get contamination because you cannot control GM seeds such as canola. The organic canola industry was finished in Canada because of GM plantings. There is no such thing as co-existance with GM.

[CouldNotCareLes]

@hebephoebe - yes, I am aware cross pollenation is possible ... but it is not as easily accomplished as the internet would have you believe.

The non-GMO canola industry in Canada is the same as the non-GMO soybean industry is in the midwest US ... there is no premium for non-GMO grain because it is not segregated. That's why I quit growing non-GMO soybeans.

The mills and manufacturers decided GMO was safe, and it is now in everyone's food.

Kraft mac-n-cheese ... all GMO.

Les

[hebephoebe]

@CouldNotCareLes What did you make of the latest news from North Dakota where wild GM canola can be found right across the state, and mutations suggest longevity. I have seen photos of GM canola growing along highways in Japan looking like young trees...even their harsh winters cannot kill them off. Japan imports GM canola, it does not grow it, and I have also seen pics of what appears to be a GM cross-bred mustard plant growing a metre and a half tall.

Sorry to hear about your losses.

[CouldNotCareLes]

@hebephoebe - Does it make sense that GM canola is spreading in the wild? Do they routinely spray RoundUp in the wild to control rampant outbreaks of canola, and now they can't because it is glyphosate tolerant? No, of course not ... that just makes no sense.

It's not a loss, there is a definate economic advantage in growing the RR crop. I used to spray three or four different chemicals at three or four different times during the growing season.

Now I spray once with RoundUp.

Les

[hebephoebe]

@CouldNotCareLes Here in Western Australia where farmers have just adopted GM canola there is a lot of concern as the favoured spray for hedgerows and highways is glyphosate...now they will have to use heavier stuff like 2-4D...a lot of people are very concerned.

Hvae you read any of the latest articles on the dangers of Roundup, and how it has been linked with birth defects etc?

[CouldNotCareLes]

@hebephoebe - why would they want bare dirt in their hedgerows and ditches?

You say that 2-4D is 'heavier' ... I'd agree.

Herbicides like Atrizine and Pursuit scare me more than that even.

Yes, but I find it hard to believe most of what I read about this subject on the internet.

[hebephoebe]

@CouldNotCareLes So what bits do you believe?

[CouldNotCareLes]

@hebephoebe - I believe that our diet of corn and soy (GMO or not) is killing us.

Les

[CouldNotCareLes]

@hebephoebe - mostly though, over the last couple years of chatting on the internet has made me realize that the average person has no clue about what is in the package they buy in the store.

Folks believe the Whole Foods is where responsible people shop ... they don't realize that they are getting the same 'food' as in other stores, that they are supporting the proliferation of GMOs in our foods, and that the store supports restrictions on food production just like Kruger/Publix does.

Les

[hebephoebe]

@CouldNotCareLes I know..it amazes me that people will spend so much time and money when buying the latest techno-gadget for the house..but when it comes to feeding themselves-or worse their kids- they go for the cheapest! When will they realise that they really are what they eat!And as you say false advertisng...or telling the truth, but not the whole truth - dishonestly misleads a lot of folk....hard to tell who to believe sometimes.

[CouldNotCareLes]

@hebephoebe - I shudder when I go to a grocery store. There is one isle of vegetables, a meat counter, and twenty isles of crap.

We spent three weeks in Europe this spring. Folks there shop at markets, buying fresh food every day or two. There is no need for GMO labeling, because there are no GMOs and there are no packages much less labels. No one has a freezer. Most homes have only a 'dorm-size' fridge. They don't cook with microwaves.

There are no fat people in Europe.

[hebephoebe]

@CouldNotCareLes hahaha...sorry , it's not funny but you are describing Australia...we are definitely following your model, and not the European way...can't think why as we are based on European immigrants. I also think that the strict GM labelling laws have also kept a lot of crap out of the shops...but the UK is different from the Continent and tends to follow the same standards that we have... if you have seen any of the Jamie Oliver shows you will see that the English do not 'do' food well.

[CouldNotCareLes]

@hebephoebe - I thought Jamie Oliver was just attacking the US schools and such. If he is successful in his campaign, all fruit and produce served in institutions will be USDA "Organic" (really the same as regular fruit and produce but with the seal on the label) and Dole, DelMonte, Kraft and the like will laugh all the way to the bank.

Les

[hebephoebe]

@CouldNotCareLes He is a very passionate and motivated guy who sincerely is concerned about our eating habits, and what we are doing to our kids. He does not intend to attack, but re-educate, and often this can be misconstrued as attacking especially when people are sensitive and unaware of what they are actually doing . I saw some of the US shows and they were excellent. The people that were offside at the beginning finally saw what his true intentions were and supported his changes.

[CouldNotCareLes]

@hebephoebe - the question is though, what will happen if folks take action on his agenda. My guess is that the kids will eat the same school lunches, but Dole, ConAgra, Simplot, etc. will make more profit. The "Organic" regulations are made by these grocery "manufacturers."

Les

[hebephoebe]

@CouldNotCareLes Google 'Jamie's Food Revolution' and see what he is advocating. It's all about getting processed, fatty, salty, sugar-laden foods out of school lunches and replacing them with meals cooked from REAL food not processed food pretending to be real. I had a shock when I visited the US a few years ago when my son and niece asked for a plate of nachos, and I saw bright orange 'cheese' being squirted from a tube onto the chips...what the hell is that all about?? (BTW.we binned them).

[CouldNotCareLes]

@hebephoebe - yes, and that is a good agenda, but you missed my point.

The large food 'manufacturers' influence the regulations around 'Organic' food production, and I'm afraid the only difference between 'Organic' and regular food would be the stamp on the lable (and the profit made from the institution contracts.)

They would never be able to buy from the local CSA or a loccal farmer because the food would need the 'Organic' label which the small farmer won't be able to get.

Les

[hebephoebe]

@CouldNotCareLes What about Certified Organic...what are your controls like in the US, Certified Organics here are very strict...guaranteed 100% by law...not you?

[CouldNotCareLes]

@hebephoebe - Oh yea, certified 'Organic'

... like where the produce farm can only use any combination of the 19 synthetic pesticides that are 'approved' for use on 'Organic' vegetables?

Les

[hebephoebe]

@CouldNotCareLes (sorry for delay...weekend away from the pc!!) re organics we have a strict policy here where Organic Certification prohibits the use of all synthetic pesticides. Naturally occurring substances like Neem oil , pyrethrums, chilli and garlic preparations are “restricted” meaning they can be used only under certain circumstances ....what are you guys allowed to get away with???

[CouldNotCareLes]

@hebephoebe - Corporations like Whole Foods (watch this - watch?v=JQ31Ljd9T_Y), ConAgra, Dole, DelMonte, Tyson, etc. write the rules and set up the protocols so no small producer can compete. 'Orgainc' in the US is a total scam, and folks eat it up thinking they are saving themselves and the world.

The sheep have convinced themselves that it is Monsanto's fault, which allows the grocery industry to make enormous profits selling crap as food with no visibility or accountability.

Les

[hebephoebe]

@CouldNotCareLes Once again the Big Boys muscle out the small players,,,having laid down the rules...same over here..but at least we have a certified oragnic labelling system that cam be trusted...Big Boys are still playing catch-up with organics here so we haven't seen small players pushed out of the picture yet...plus we have growing numbers of farmers markets where cert. organics thrive due to huge demand.

[CouldNotCareLes]

@hebephoebe - anyway ... I gotta go combine some GMO soybeans so folks will have 'food' to eat this winter.

Nice chat, thanks!

[hebephoebe]

@CouldNotCareLes g'day!

[Gatodefelix]

@hebephoebe

What if you were hungry? would you turn down transgenic food?

[hebephoebe]

@Gatodefelix Do you mean if I had no other choice? Naturally if it was life or death you would eat anything (in such circumstances people have turned cannibalistic) but there is always a choice. Take the earthquake which devastated Haiti in 2010. When US Aid supplied hybrid and GM seeds the farmers protested and burned seeds. Their fear was that they would be a threat to their own seed banks and biodiversity. They also knew that alternatives were available, and these were fianlly supplied.

[Gatodefelix]

@hebephoebe Hybrid and GM seeds are not the same thing. A country full of uneducated people can't make the scientific decision on whether their food is safe. The turning down of food is ignorant and perpetuated by activist groups such as Greenpeace that use fear mongering and negative imagery to put down a science they don't understand. Fact of the matter is is these foods have been tested and approved as safe for the environment and can allow farmers to use less inputs to produce a livelihood.

[hebephoebe]

@Gatodefelix You may have misunderstood what I wrote...that the Haitian farmers refused both GM and hybrid seeds,which they know are not the same, but both pose problems to heirloom seeds specifically bred over centuries to suit their farming conditions.

I take offence to your suggestion that they are all uneducated and thus incapable of deciding what is best for their farms, familes and future. Do you think that ther are no intelligent people in Haiti?

[craffte]

what's a saktoth?...........is that genetically modified?

[Saktoth]

Its just ignorance, a lot of misinformation.

People cant, dont and dont want to know what the real dangers or benefits of genetic modification (or, any public health and safety issue really) is.

They just want to tar a big bunch of stuff with 'bad' because 'i've heard' or 'its unnatural' or other non arguments. The only way to get people to really pay attention to their health is widespread indescriminate panic inducement. Such a tool is a club, not a scalpel.

[Bobbiethejean]

I did a bit of research on GMOs and walked away with the informed opinion that GMOs are potentially a Pandora's box. Human safety studies have not been done and what few studies have been done showed that GMOs may be harmful.

I recommend Googling The Pinky Show and watching the GMO episode. The format is a little silly but it's very informative.

[robertvdheide]

our imune system can handle the natural virus ,but the modified crops desroy our immune system

[82abhilash]

'I feel it would be really nice if we can have complete information' at 1:13. Well lady speak for yourself 'I feel it would be really nice if I can have complete information'. They may charge you extra for it, the kind of information you ask for costs money to keep track off. But I am sure you will pay since you know that is worth it. As for me, well I will think about it.

[wildpeachatl737]

My problem with man and technology is that nature already has a check and balance system in place and we are constantly interferring in that process. Nature will always find a way through evolution and mutation to bring forth what it deems necessary and eventually man will hit a wall that it cannot break down.

[Jrien]

Why not just label it transgenic food? The only use of that word that I know of is related to organisms that have had genes artificially inserted by humans (and not through breeding obviously).

[starfireucsd]

my gosh, if people ever find out what long-term effects GMO's have on their body, there will be a revolution by tomorrow.

[wimscheers]

Same goes for everything. Climate change? Ozon layer? Cancer inducing materials? Years asbest has been a perfectly legitimate building material. The question is, will we stop process because were afraid for a devastating new product? How much will we slow it down? Were doing years of research on life saving medicines, but were also doing the same research on that strange, pulsating new chemical doctor Doom created. Interesting debate.

[wildpeachatl737]

Yes, but asbestos was a man-made substance and it turned out not to be such the innovation we thought.

Anything that can be for the greater good can also be used for evil as well. The question for me is, should we (man) do anything at all in regards to the cycle of life and the elements as we don't work in harmony with nature.

[wimscheers]

Should we use steel? It's man made. And the answer is YES. If a plant could make it rain during droughts, it would. Do we know the long term prospects of our endeavors? Of course not, nobody does. But do we know the long term prospects of our inactivity? And, on a side note, if an anthill is considered natural, a bee hive a work of natures art, then why isnt a concrete building natural?

[wildpeachatl737]

Do we eat steel? Does steel affect the life cycle? You're comparing apples and oranges here.

Surely we can use steel, but do we need to? Concrete isn't considered natural as there are chemical elements necessary to complete its composition. Anthills and bee hives require nothing more than earth and water, right?

[wimscheers]

Do we eat enriched plutonium? Does it affect the life cycle? Do we eat asbest? Does it affect the life cycle? That's the problem, we don't know. "Anthills and bee hives require nothing more than earth and water" Do humans create something out of the blue then? That's the problem, what is harmful and what isn't. We don't know yet. Maybe in 500 years all radio signals will be banned. On a side note, did you see I am legend? Cure for cancer is found, use it or not?

[wildpeachatl737]

We know enough not to eat it...that we do know.

Yes, we create but we don't need all that we do. If something is found to be harmful 5 minutes or 500 years from now, it still doesn't detract from the fact that it was harmful if we created it. I've never heard of toxic trees or earth, they work in conjunction with us.

No, I didn't get that memo about your legendary status but it's been duly noted. Do what you see fit with it, I'm not going to interfere with the work of a mental giant.

[wimscheers]

The first plants producing 02 wiped out almost all other life forms of that time. Are they harmful? The Plague wiped out up to a third of the western population. Its relatively easy for one life form to destroy a large chunk of the current population, by byproduct or sheer competition. Why is it natural if a bug does it, but not if we do it? The only thing we really need to watch out for is unforeseen consequences, which will surely arrive.

[wildpeachatl737]

That can only apply if you know what the actual scheme of things are and that can only be answered if one knows the true meaning of life, right?

Perhaps the first plants were acting as they were designed to act as the plague.

[wimscheers]

And I was talking about Will Smiths movie I Am Legend. A Cure for cancer is found, but then, as a side effect, turns everybody into zombies. Hey, Its Hollywood, theyre allowed to.

[wildpeachatl737]

Sorry about that, didn't see it. This hypothetical might not be too far off the mark, it would appear that we already have zombies around us from some of the conversations I've seen on the internet.

[Sardonac]

Interesting topic but not a very enlightening discussion.

[jsgardener]

Funny...last time I heard this type discussion was before Bush Administration.

What people like to hear is pesticide-free.

Ms. Ronald is completely accurate.

[wildpeachatl737]

I have a problem with meddling with nature's design in the first place. The information that I would find relevant would be if the food was altered to resist pesticides. I trust nature infinitely more than man.

Although I intellictually understand the reason behind genetic engineering to increase productivity and solve food shortage problems around the world, I can't help but wonder if this harms us in the long runn. Just because we have the capability to do things doesn't mean we should.

[Crackadackas]

That's the unfortunate choice one must make. If handled wholly organically, in the best case scenario assuming no crop failures and 100% of farmable land used, only about 4 billion could be fed. Without these alterations, we've exceeded this planet's carrying capacity. Either deal with possible long run ramifications of genetic altercation and pesticides, or pick 2-3 billion people to starve.

[jonz23m]

I dont know where u have these numbers but the myth that genetically modified food will save feed the world and without it people would starve is just propaganda spread by those very corporations. We still would have a vast overproduction even without gmos the distrubition is the problem.And Gmos givin the power to corporations to patent seeds makes it worse not better.

[wildpeachatl737]

As cruel as it may sound, perhaps that's nature's way of letting us know that we're heavy by 2-3 billion folks. We have over-populated this planet to the point of draining its resources dry. Nature is making a necessary correction.

[TRU2myHEART]

I recently heard an interesting fact that every human being on earth could have a half an acre to themselves to grow food on and that everyone could fit in austrailia alone. We are not overpopulated, just mismanaged and too many living unsustainable lifestyles. We just need to reevaluate things on a much different level than materialism and vanity, all too common traits.

[lumpfish99]

over population is a lie.......we have badly concentrated areas of human habitation but there is plenty of room on the earth.....

[Slug99]

You don't seem to grasp the idea of overpopulation. SImply because the earth has room for more people doesn't mean it has the resources to sustain it for a long time.

[lumpfish99]

they are wasting resources, not investing enough in renewable energy, surpressing technology and they are conditioning us into believing we are the problem while all the time making more and more money.....

[RandyBful1]

Only a fool believes there is a food shortage (although, with GMOs, it's rapidly approaching). The only 'food' problem is the distribution of it. The elite decide who gets it and who doesn't. If all the BILLIONS in aid to other countries actually reached those people, they wouldn't still be going hungry!

[monogirl3]

@RandyBful1 exactly, the idea that we somehow have a food shortage is absolutely absurd - it is to do with the skewed distribution of wealth and the poverty that results from this. the only people who win when it comes to GM foods are corporations like monsanto and these multinationals are at the very core of why there exists such horrendous economic inequality.

[MagellansUnderwear]

I'm not opposed to "GMO's" on the whole, but no rush on getting them onto shelves, because they haven't been researched and developed enough just yet. GMO's engineered to resist drought, disease, and insects,and yield more protein could potentially eliminate famine in many areas of Africa. Good can be done here, but only if we approach it carefully.

[Anjimom]

Famine in Africa happens because food supplies are cut off, not because of food shortage.

[MagellansUnderwear]

it happens because of both. some regions in Africa have been caught in a drought for decades. In those areas, drought resistant heat tolerant crops could go a long way to helping. you're right about supplies being cut off though, it's a sad reality that warlords and dictators steal much of the supplies in shipment to those in need.

GMO's, if properly studied and utilized are not a cure all, but potentially an effective bandage.

[Anjimom]

Kudos.

[itsabomberscope]

My god, what a tangled web we weave.