Everybody seems to come to the debate with their minds already made up one way or the other, but the discussion for or against GMOs is as heated and passionate as it ever was.
Alex Berezow gives his reasons and examples of why he feels "the world must embrace GMOs."
Among his points:
* gene modification of rice to produce more beta-carotene (vitamin A precursor) will save the eyesight of many people around the world each year
* banana bacterial wilt has defied solution, threatening many livelihoods. Incorporating pepper genes has shown such promise at making bananas resistant to wilt that the Ugandan government has waived its opposition to GMOs for field trials to take place
* genetic modification saved Hawaii's papaya industry from the papaya ringspot virus
* Anti-biotechnology groups mislead the
public about GMOs by downplaying the known benefits while overhyping
small, theoretical risks
The arguments are as old and standard as those of the opponents of
GMOs, but this is obviously a discussion that is not going away.
African Agriculture
October 24, 2012
The campaign against GMOs, biotechnology is based on misinformation and fear
Categories biotechnology, GM crops