Genetically modified crops' results raise concern

Genetically modified crops' results raise concern
Carolyn Lochhead
Monday, April 30, 2012

Washington -- Biotechnology's promise to feed the world did not anticipate "Trojan corn," "super weeds" and the disappearance of monarch butterflies.

But in the Midwest and South - blanketed by more than 170 million acres of genetically engineered corn, soybeans and cotton - an experiment begun in 1996 with approval of the first commercial genetically modified organisms is producing questionable results...

Some farm groups have joined environmentalists in an attempt to slow down approvals of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, as a newly engineered corn, resistant to another potent herbicide, stands on the brink of approval.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... z1tY5wufB2

Biotechnology's promise to feed the world did not anticipate "Trojan corn," "super weeds" and the disappearance of monarch butterflies.

That has the makings (heh) of a great Cheech & Chong skit.

"Hey, man, look. I got some super weed."
"Far out. I could use some fresh bud."
"It's not pot, man. It's ... it's Trojan corn."
"What?"
"Yeah, man, it like smuggles some real shit into the place."
"Oh, okay. I thought it was like a rubber, you know."
"Yeah. The only thing, it keeps you from seeing butterflies."

Biotechnology's promise to feed the world did not anticipate "Trojan corn," "super weeds" and the disappearance of monarch butterflies.

That has the makings (heh) of a great Cheech & Chong skit.

"Hey, man, look. I got some super weed."
"Far out. I could use some fresh bud."
"It's not pot, man. It's ... it's Trojan corn."
"What?"
"Yeah, man, it like smuggles some real shit into the place."
"Oh, okay. I thought it was like a rubber, you know."
"Yeah. The only thing, it keeps you from seeing butterflies."

win.......

Genetically modified crops' results raise concern
Carolyn Lochhead
Monday, April 30, 2012

Washington -- Biotechnology's promise to feed the world did not anticipate "Trojan corn," "super weeds" and the disappearance of monarch butterflies.

But in the Midwest and South - blanketed by more than 170 million acres of genetically engineered corn, soybeans and cotton - an experiment begun in 1996 with approval of the first commercial genetically modified organisms is producing questionable results...

Some farm groups have joined environmentalists in an attempt to slow down approvals of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, as a newly engineered corn, resistant to another potent herbicide, stands on the brink of approval.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... z1tY5wufB2

Not sure where Monarch butterflies fit in. Their caterpillars eat milkweed, not GM crops, or un-gm crops for that matter.

...Not sure where Monarch butterflies fit in. Their caterpillars eat milkweed, not GM crops, or un-gm crops for that matter.

Per the article, it would seem that the herbicide resistant GM corn leads to more use of particularly aggressive herbicides, which have a bad tendency to fog up and kill every broad leaf critter in their path, including milkweed.

Nope, this is completely different shit. In the case of the ethanol engineered corn, sloppy shit. In the case of the herbicide resistant corn, just deadly for every other plant that happens to be in the vicinity...

All this shit is the same old crap that the left has been throwing at GMO for decades now. They keep regurgitating exactly the same arguments over and over again. (That it is crap that they are regurgitating tells you something about their diet, whether physically or mentally.)

It's the Left's War On Science.

:hesaid:

All this shit is the same old crap that the left has been throwing at GMO for decades now. They keep regurgitating exactly the same arguments over and over again. (That it is crap that they are regurgitating tells you something about their diet, whether physically or mentally.)

It's the Left's War On Science.

The left's agenda is let thousands -- MILLIONS of people starve to death to prove the purity of their position. Only government is allowed to grow and distribute food. And if you don't bow down to the godking of liberalism, then DIE -- the horrid, painful death of starvation.

There is no force on earth more evil than liberalism.

Except that now there's 15 years of experience that shows it's not all sunshine and roses. Too bad the only choices (for purely bullshit partisan reasons) seem to be full speed ahead, damn the torpedos and monarch butterflies, or eek! it's GMO! <faint>.

The euroweenies are scared shitless of GMO, but smoke like chimneys.

Since everyone here, without any exception that I know of, thinks that growing corn for ethanol on the scale that is being done is a bad idea why the defence of this variety that was created for this purpose?

This is concern about the possible effects on third parties and the environment of this technology. It is not the frankenfoods BS. Now I expect that the fears of food corn being contaminated will more likely than not prove to be exagerated but it is reasonable to be concerned about it. And the fuel corn should not be being grown anyhow.

As for the other modified corn the concern is that it will lead to a massive increase in the use of certain pesticides with resultant undesirable side effects. I don't know how big the danger is but it is reasonable to be concerned. And as was pointed out in the article, how long will the gains from the heavy use of pesticides that this will encourage last? Weeds evolve and I would expect pesticide resistant strains to appear.

It is a useful work. Imagine a futuristic corn plant where instead of the corn ears the actual whiskey bottles grow on the stem, and ripen, er, mature, during the summer.

It is a useful work. Imagine a futuristic corn plant where instead of the corn ears the actual whiskey bottles grow on the stem, and ripen, er, mature, during the summer.

Way ahead of you buddy. I'm preparing a dragon to convert plant material into drinkable and/or combustible hooch.

Aaaand, the dragon can fly you home later, instead of your having to drive.

It is a useful work. Imagine a futuristic corn plant where instead of the corn ears the actual whiskey bottles grow on the stem, and ripen, er, mature, during the summer.

Good idea but better do it with barley. I prefer Scoch and Irish whisies.

It is a useful work. Imagine a futuristic corn plant where instead of the corn ears the actual whiskey bottles grow on the stem, and ripen, er, mature, during the summer.

Good idea but better do it with barley. I prefer Scotch and Irish whiskies.

A barley plant stem is not robust enough to support a bottle growing on it, hence the choice of corn/maize.

Except that now there's 15 years of experience that shows it's not all sunshine and roses. Too bad the only choices (for purely bullshit partisan reasons) seem to be full speed ahead, damn the torpedos and monarch butterflies, or eek! it's GMO! <faint>.

OTOH, we have been eating genetically modified crops for a damn long time now. Take corn as an example. 200 years ago folks would not recognize the variety we see in the supermarket daily.

Since everyone here, without any exception that I know of, thinks that growing corn for ethanol on the scale that is being done is a bad idea why the defence of this variety that was created for this purpose?

Because most folks here don't make the mistake of argumentative irrelevance.

Except that now there's 15 years of experience that shows it's not all sunshine and roses. Too bad the only choices (for purely bullshit partisan reasons) seem to be full speed ahead, damn the torpedos and monarch butterflies, or eek! it's GMO! <faint>.

OTOH, we have been eating genetically modified crops for a damn long time now. Take corn as an example. 200 years ago folks would not recognize the variety we see in the supermarket daily.

Yes, breeding plants resistant to specific pests or drought/cold resistant strains of food crops has been going forever. The purpose has always been the same, too. To get more usable, edible or marketable goods out of a piece of land.

The difference isn't one of kind, but of speed, scale and unintended consequences.

Most and probably all problems with GM crops can be handled by just treating them as invasive species until further notice. A little extra care is all that is needed. County agents should be able to provide information on such crops.

Now, why not create some lawn grasses that are more drought resistant?