by frog
The promise of GE was that it was going to feed the starving masses. Now a UN report that 400 scientists spent four years helping to write criticises GE saying it has little role to play in helping to feed the world and that scientific time and energy time instead needs to be invested protecting soils, water and forests:
“Assessment of the technology lags behind its development, information is anecdotal and contradictory, and uncertainty about possible benefits and damage is unavoidable,” said the report.
And the report’s Chief Scientist says “The short answer to whether transgenic crops can feed the world is ‘no’.?
Yet, powerful countries with large GE lobbies like the USA, UK, Australia and Canada are currently not endorsing the report. So it seems some will continue to defend GE even when it fails to deliver on its most crucial promise.
Published in Environment & Resource Management by frog on Thu, April 17th, 2008
Tags: , agriculture, farming, Food, GE, United Nations
on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
This Independent article quotes one of those defenders:
“Lennart Båge, the president of the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development, suggested that those opposed to GM crops should take another look at the productivity gains they can unleash and bring changes as massive as the “green revolution” of the 1960s, when crop yields in India and other developing nations jumped because of of better seeds, fertilisers and improved irrigation.
That change brought down food prices, freeing millions from hunger. If world leaders cannot come up with something similar again, the food riots could spread across the globe.”
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
*can* unleash as opposed to *have* unleashed by the sounds…
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
I don’t mean to sound too conspiracy theoristic, but somehow I never believed the likes of Monsanto were really all that concerned with feeding the world’s starving masses. Somehow gaining control of the world’s food supplies always seemed the higher priority.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
My favourite conspiracy theory would have to be that the GE lobby got in behind the biofuels push because they wanted this to happen…..uhoh, time for me to think about something else….
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
I see farrar is posting more Green party Candidate stuff. Have we a mole ?
and does it matter ?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
i wouldn’t ‘sweat it’..
farrar writes about it..
and opens a forum for green issues..
(what’s not to like..?..)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
phil,
I don’t know
sensitive campaign stuff ?? perhaps
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
sheesh..!
for the greens almost any publicity helps..
and it confirms the (‘ahem!’) strict adherence to democratic procedures..
within the green party..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
# wekaontheroof Says:
April 17th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
“I see farrar is posting more Green party Candidate stuff. Have we a mole ?
and does it matter ? ”
yes it do matter dude, farra is now being influenced by heavy weight intellectual,
also he recognising what his leader seeing,
like especially after the Airports and Train set,
i told yous dude before
yous don’t have to have a NAT ACT WINSTON PETER NZ GOVT
yous get Jeanette and that fwog to name requirements,
after that NZ people will back you dude
this is a guarantee
New Zealand
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
This is o/t but interesting.
“The system is infected by deep, inbred flaws that are rendering it increasingly unstable. Free-market capitalism as practiced on Wall Street and in The City has run amok. If the current crisis, and the recurring crises of the last twenty years, tell us anything, it is that market solutions are insufficient to protect the system from the greed and fear that drive markets. If the deep structural cracks in the system are not addressed and corrected, the markets may not survive the next near-death experience.”
http://www.fxstreet.com/futures/market-review/outside-the-box/2008-04-01.html
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
GE != more food
GE == more profit
GE == more market control
GE != better health
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
What a waste of time and money eh.
Time travel is where the research money should be spent!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)