GM Crops and food

Tipp Man

Noticed a thread on After hours and thought it is something that should be discussed here too
http://www.thejournal.ie/gm-potato-trials-could-be-held-in-carlow-367973-Feb2012/

Teagasc asking permission to grow GM potatoes in Carlow.

Just wondering what are yer thoughts on GM in Agri Ireland? Are you for it or against it? How would you like to see GM in the agri industry in Ireland?

My own personal thoughts - I wouldn't be a major fan of it - not a fan of humans playing god. It is 1 thing that generations to breed particular traits in animals (or crops) it is another to do it in a lab under a microscope. The question then is where does it stop?

Or am i just ignorant to the potentially hugely beneficial impact it could have on agriculture? Alternatively is it just another means to control farmers? If droughts and disease have no impact then are we destined to receive low prices for ever as worldwide crop production would be much more stable?

GM will probably be the most talked about aspect of Agri in the next 20 years - so what are your thoughts and feelings on it?

bbam

I suppose it depends.
The traits brought in through work in the lab, are these dangerous compared to traits brought in through selective breeding?

Another question I saw raised in the NG magazine was that it is usually developed western people's who object rather than those without enough to eat.
I doubt many in parts of Africa would ask or care if grain was GM if they had it to feed their children.

5live

The GM potatoes being tested are ones with blight resistant genes from other potatoes so its not like they used dolphins or sheep genes. And as potatoes are not native to here and their genes are unlikely to be transmitted to other crops, and potatoes are not grown from seed thus preventing contamination of other potatoe crops, then yes it should go ahead.

If public opinion decides we cannot use use a lot of fungicides on potatoes as is happening then they should be made aware of the necessary evils in the choices facing them. Fungicides or GM or hunger:(

No fungicides=lower/no yields or non commercial crops like the Lumper(from famine times but practically imposible to use for anything other than boiling due to being lumpy:))

Birdnuts

bbam wrote: »

Another question I saw raised in the NG magazine was that it is usually developed western people's who object rather than those without enough to eat.
I doubt many in parts of Africa would ask or care if grain was GM if they had it to feed their children.

I think before we hand over the faith of Africa's poor and hungry to the likes of Monsanto it should be noted that corruption, mismangement and constant regional warfare are the primary causes of these periodic food shortages. Not to mentions the vast of amount of food that rots due to lack of proper storage and transport facilties in many areas. If you can get hold of this weeks Economist there is a very interesting piece on GM food and the threat it represents to the continueing loss of gene diversity in world food crops which are a vital buffer to future climate shocks etc.