One-Billionth Acre of Biotech

[JereGettle]

One-Billionth Acre of Biotech Seed Planted

By AMY LORENTZEN, Associated Press Writer
DES MOINES, Iowa - Biotech farmers this week are lauding what they say is a milestone for the industry — the planting of the billionth acre of biotech seed.


"Today, we have hit an amazing milestone — somewhere in the northern hemisphere, a farmer has planted the one billionth acre of seed containing biotech traits," Tom West, vice president of biotechnology affairs for Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc., said in a statement Monday.

West said biotech crops are one of the greatest technological advances in the history of agriculture.

Such crops have been at the center of heated debate between environmentalists, who worry they're not safe for the land or human consumption, and industry organizations, that say biotech crops reduce the use of pesticides and other farm chemicals.

Rich Leopold, executive director of the Iowa Environmental Council, said biotech crops need public oversight and monitoring, including more study of their effect on the environment.

[wildseed2u]

Hi all, I just wanted to add a small note, I'm not a expert on the subject of GM plants , but I feel that they should be closely monitored as this is a very new science that could cause our world to come to a end. There has been no long term study say 20 or more years to see if they are causing health problems we just more or less take their word that these plants are safe. They could be a atom bomb just waiting to go off. I personally would not want to go to the store and buy corn that has a gene that can kill a insect or a Tomato that has a pig gene that will keep it shinny and red for six months in my refrig, much of this boils down to just plain greed on the part of big companies trying to save a buck not trying to save humanity or end hunger.
George W.

[Jodi]

Here is another scarey thought. Do you really know what you are eating??!!

Hope this link still works so you can see what they are up to.
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/story.jsp?story=632444

Most of us don't have a clue that 75% m/l of processed foods are franken-pharm food.

Just another reason to pray that God blesses the food we are about to eat, even if we think we know where it came from.
Jodi

[Loves_carrots]

Yes the link worked but I would have had to register to get the rest of the story. The little paragraph that I was able to read was enough, though. In this area (Gainesville, FL) it is very easy to get organic vegetables all year and we are very lucky to have a long growing season.

Thank you for the heads up with that article. I feel like I need to start learning a lot more about our food supply.

[darwinslair]

A billion acres? heck, I would like to have just one full one I could call my own.

Tom

[silverseeds]

Stories like this scare me. we are basically lab rats and most do not care.

[older than dirt]

Its a sure thing someone is eating that stuff. Potato chips , corn curles . Chettoes :(

[winter_unfazed]

I first saw the title and thought, one billionth of an acre. I wish!

[G. Gordon Gumbo]

Stories like this scare me. we are basically lab rats and most do not care.


True.

Many don't care. Most don't even know. Apathy and ignorance often go hand in hand.

But maybe think of it in a positive light:

1. Why should we as humans subject poor, dumb animals to inhumane testing procedures for our own purposes? That seems evil, too.

2. Why not use the general population as the "lab rats?" I mean if it turns out there's a deleterious effect, shouldn't we all share the hazard? And if it turns out there are benefits, shouldn't we all have participated in the process? That seems democratic or even populist!

<wink>


GGG

[silverseeds]

True.

Many don't care. Most don't even know. Apathy and ignorance often go hand in hand.

But maybe think of it in a positive light:

1. Why should we as humans subject poor, dumb animals to inhumane testing procedures for our own purposes? That seems evil, too.

2. Why not use the general population as the "lab rats?" I mean if it turns out there's a deleterious effect, shouldn't we all share the hazard? And if it turns out there are benefits, shouldn't we all have participated in the process? That seems democratic or even populist!

<wink>


GGG

well if it was labeled, and I had a choice other then growing my own, I wouldnt care so much.....

[G. Gordon Gumbo]

Hey, I was just trying to think like one of them socialist libertarian types <chuckle>


GGG

[silverseeds]

Hey, I was just trying to think like one of them socialist libertarian types <chuckle>


GGG

Socialist libertarians????? LOL I guess thats over my head.....

still Ive not seen any valid reason to not test GMO crops, in the VERY least they should be labeled.....

[G. Gordon Gumbo]

I thought the did test them. And I thought several grains and food crops had been withheld pending further testing.


GGG

[silverseeds]

I thought the did test them. And I thought several grains and food crops had been withheld pending further testing.


GGG

:rolleyes: :confused: :(

[lorna-organic]

The fish gene tomato was taken off the market.

[G. Gordon Gumbo]

Yes, and I think some of the rice. And some other stuff has not been okayed to enter the market yet. I do agree with Silver though that food should be labeled sufficiently that folks know what the heck they're eating.


GGG

[RozieDozie]

The fish gene tomato was taken off the market.


How sad!! A fish-tomato sandwich sounds so appetizing. :p

[G. Gordon Gumbo]

FLT. LOL.


GGG

[Mischka]

The fish gene tomato was taken off the market.

Calgene yanked the Flavr Savr GMO tomato (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavr_Savr) off the market due to lackluster sales though, and not from any study indicating detrimental health problems from their consumption.

It's a good thing they used a poor-producing tomato variety for gene insertion, otherwise I'm betting they would be found on every supermarket produce shelf today. :eek:

[winter_unfazed]

Calgene yanked the Flavr Savr GMO tomato off the market due to lackluster sales though, and not from any study indicating detrimental health problems from their consumption.

It wasn't exactly a study; it was numerous anecdotal reports of allergic reactions experienced by fish-allergic individuals.

[tashak]

Lack of labelling invalidates the informed consent principle.

[tweed]

still Ive not seen any valid reason to not test GMO crops, in the VERY least they should be labeled.....

Agreed.
The question did pop into my head though.
Would a lot of our culture's outlook (Hero/TV worship) preclude people from caring what was in it, so long as it didn't make them fat?
Hope that made sense and that I didn't go too deep.

Steve

[silverseeds]

Agreed.
The question did pop into my head though.
Would a lot of our culture's outlook (Hero/TV worship) preclude people from caring what was in it, so long as it didn't make them fat?
Hope that made sense and that I didn't go too deep.

Steve

yeah many dont care for various reasons.... Same with organic though.

many dont care if their food is covered with chemicals, but those who dont want them, due to labeling have a choice.....

[tweed]

yeah many dont care for various reasons.... Same with organic though.

many dont care if their food is covered with chemicals, but those who dont want them, due to labeling have a choice.....

I'll be looking at some organic pesticides for this coming year. I used a product called "Total" last year, but am unsure of the dangers to be honest.....Just didn't want to lose the garden. Some of the organic pesticides I have seen seem to be very expensive. The biggest pests in my garden are Potato Beetles and Bean Beetles.
In addition, I've come to the conclusion that I will be growing Golden Bantam and Country Gentleman corn this coming season, which will make my garden totally heirloom for the first time.
Sorry I went off topic.

Steve

[darwinslair]

I'll be looking at some organic pesticides for this coming year.

Steve

Have you tried powdered tobacco tea?

If I have not sent you any, can send you some high nicotine/short season tobacco to try with.

Tom

[tweed]

Have you tried powdered tobacco tea?

If I have not sent you any, can send you some high nicotine/short season tobacco to try with.

Tom

No I haven't.
What pests does it work on?
It's clear to me that I am going to have to buy some educational material on the subect of organic pest control. That would be so cool to be able to grow a totally heirloom garden and not use any store bought pesticides!
Jere is gonna have our butts for hi-jackin' this thread! :D

Steve

[September Girl]

Do the politicians & big whigs at the GMO companies eat that BAD food or do they have a source of honest to goodness food we don't know about? I am sure they don't garden and think it beneath them!

[silverseeds]

Do the politicians & big whigs at the GMO companies eat that BAD food or do they have a source of honest to goodness food we don't know about? I am sure they don't garden and think it beneath them!

I wish I knew that also.... Ive heard that at their corporate offices they serve organic food. Im not sure the source, so who knows if its true. but I wish I knew also....

[tweed]

I wish I knew that also.... Ive heard that at their corporate offices they serve organic food. Im not sure the source, so who knows if its true. but I wish I knew also....

Only the "Little People" should get GMO.

Steve

[HillsideDigger]

I see that this thread started in 2005 and I wonder if by one billion they mean the sum of all the acres planted in prior years up until 2005 or if they mean one billion acres planted with GMO seed during 2005?

[reubenT]

a billion acres is 1,562,500 sq miles. or a square 1250 miles on each side.

That claim of lowered chemical use is a flat out lie, who's breeding biotech and why? It's a fact, toxic chemical use has escalated sence the introduction of biotech, I've seen the numbers.

[deciduousLychees]

That claim of lowered chemical use is a flat out lie, who's breeding biotech and why? It's a fact, toxic chemical use has escalated sence the introduction of biotech, I've seen the numbers.
According to the Organic Center (http://www.organic-center.org/science.pest.php?action=view&report_id=159) it has, but others (http://geneticmaize.com/does-using-gmos-really-increase-pesticide-use/) have accused that study of being prettyflawed (http://www.pgeconomics.co.uk/pdf/OCreportcritiqueNov2009.pdf).(pdf)

[older than dirt]

How long did it take us to realize the problems involved with allumimum cookware , Teflon cook ware & Birth control pills.
My real worry is seed stock being poluted but actually there is a possibility of human health issues showing up 40 years from now after every one has eaten it except 15 people in the amazon & 27 people in africa :-)