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Like you, I have no problem eating GMO crops but as you say, there are potential knock-on effects from a systems perspective. Similar to the financial system, i

by tren 9y ago

Like you, I have no problem eating GMO crops but as you say, there are potential knock-on effects from a systems perspective. Similar to the financial system, if the sole pursuit is yield, systemic problems arise. The main issues I have with GMO is the patenting of crops, specifically those that are introduced to third world countries which are typically sterile, causing the farmers to have an ongoing dependence/obligation to the patent holders. Probably an even greater problem is crop resilience - yes, many crops will give far greater yield when given ideal conditions, but by reducing diversity within the same species makes them more vulnerable to specific diseases. In nature, there is always some % of a crop that's resistant to a disease, that diversity is removed when all the crops are essentially identical.

thaumaturgy 9y ago
> The main issues I have with GMO is the patenting of crops, specifically those that are introduced to third world countries which are typically sterile, causing the farmers to have an ongoing dependence/obligation to the patent holders. Incidentally, this is also the solution to one of the major criticisms of GMO plants: in the event of significant cross-pollination, the GMO plants won't be viable. > Probably an even greater problem is crop resilience - yes, many crops will give far greater yield when given ideal conditions, but by reducing diversity within the same species makes them more vulnerable to specific diseases. We already massively reduce diversity in agricultural crops. This is not a problem specific to, or even exacerbated by, GMO crops. > In nature, there is always some % of a crop that's resistant to a disease, that diversity is removed when all the crops are essentially identical. Diversity is doing exactly piss-all for the hundreds of millions of conifers in California that have been killed by bark beetles.
- AstralStorm 9y ago
  Mostly because the natural state is that species outcompete others on long timeframes. The problem is that alleged natural state is currently vastly reduced diversity. If anything, adding GMO will improve on that.
_devang 9y ago
Patenting of plants predates GMOs and actually, the majority of patented plant varieties are non-GMO. GMO plants are not sterile. They are usually hybrids and like with all hybrids (even non-GMO) their offspring do not maintain the same traits. This is why Monsanto's (and other non-GM hybrid seed providers) agreements with farmers do not allow for replanting--they don't want liability for trait failure in offspring.

by tren 9y ago

thaumaturgy 9y ago

> The main issues I have with GMO is the patenting of crops, specifically those that are introduced to third world countries which are typically sterile, causing the farmers to have an ongoing dependence/obligation to the patent holders. Incidentally, this is also the solution to one of the major criticisms of GMO plants: in the event of significant cross-pollination, the GMO plants won't be viable. > Probably an even greater problem is crop resilience - yes, many crops will give far greater yield when given ideal conditions, but by reducing diversity within the same species makes them more vulnerable to specific diseases. We already massively reduce diversity in agricultural crops. This is not a problem specific to, or even exacerbated by, GMO crops. > In nature, there is always some % of a crop that's resistant to a disease, that diversity is removed when all the crops are essentially identical. Diversity is doing exactly piss-all for the hundreds of millions of conifers in California that have been killed by bark beetles.

AstralStorm 9y ago
Mostly because the natural state is that species outcompete others on long timeframes. The problem is that alleged natural state is currently vastly reduced diversity. If anything, adding GMO will improve on that.

_devang 9y ago

Patenting of plants predates GMOs and actually, the majority of patented plant varieties are non-GMO. GMO plants are not sterile. They are usually hybrids and like with all hybrids (even non-GMO) their offspring do not maintain the same traits. This is why Monsanto's (and other non-GM hybrid seed providers) agreements with farmers do not allow for replanting--they don't want liability for trait failure in offspring.