3 ms·

Yeah, there are two main groups that oppose GMOs. One group is founded on fear of new technology- and this is what NdGT means. But others oppose not the scienc

by latj 13y ago

Yeah, there are two main groups that oppose GMOs. One group is founded on fear of new technology- and this is what NdGT means. But others oppose not the science of GMOs but the way they are used as a tool to control food and the business around food. I think NdGT does a disservice to people by trying to lump both groups of advocates into the same camp. Some people in the social-concerns group have thoughtful, logical perspectives. Some are even scientists themselves.

o0-0o 13y ago
I'd like to point out that a lot of intelligent people opposed to GMOs are not opposed on religious or biological concerns. The reason a lot of intelligent people are opposed to GMOs is because of the fertilizers and pesticides that are used on them. Fertilizers and pesticides are dangerous and harmful.
- glenra 13y ago
  One benefit of many GMO crops is that they allow farmers to use much less in the way of pesticides and fertilizers than they otherwise would have. For example, BT Cotton kills cotton bollworms on its own, so you don't have to spray it with additional pesticides that would kill lots of other bugs (such as aphids) and might potentially cause harm elsewhere in the food chain. (BT Cotton and BT Corn both reduce insecticide use by about half.) http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jun/13/gm-crops-environment-study http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jun/13/gm-crops-... http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/nature/fewer-pesticides-farming-with-gmos/ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/nature/fewer-pesticides-fa...
  - latj 13y ago
    Your point is well taken but I think it illustrates mine as well. There are serious problems with allowing a small non-elected group of people to represent the interests of all humans regarding agriculture. But anytime anyone tries to bring this up the discussion very quickly falls back into the realm of science- is it safe? Is it better for the environment? There is a set of separate (and in my opinion more important) social issues that should be discussed and decisions that should be made but it isnt happening because of the diversion of the science. People who love science have an obligation not just to decision making based on evidence but also in considering the ethics of those decisions and the resulting consequences.

by latj 13y ago

o0-0o 13y ago

I'd like to point out that a lot of intelligent people opposed to GMOs are not opposed on religious or biological concerns. The reason a lot of intelligent people are opposed to GMOs is because of the fertilizers and pesticides that are used on them. Fertilizers and pesticides are dangerous and harmful.

glenra 13y ago
One benefit of many GMO crops is that they allow farmers to use much less in the way of pesticides and fertilizers than they otherwise would have. For example, BT Cotton kills cotton bollworms on its own, so you don't have to spray it with additional pesticides that would kill lots of other bugs (such as aphids) and might potentially cause harm elsewhere in the food chain. (BT Cotton and BT Corn both reduce insecticide use by about half.) http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jun/13/gm-crops-environment-study http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jun/13/gm-crops-... http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/nature/fewer-pesticides-farming-with-gmos/ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/nature/fewer-pesticides-fa...
- latj 13y ago
  Your point is well taken but I think it illustrates mine as well. There are serious problems with allowing a small non-elected group of people to represent the interests of all humans regarding agriculture. But anytime anyone tries to bring this up the discussion very quickly falls back into the realm of science- is it safe? Is it better for the environment? There is a set of separate (and in my opinion more important) social issues that should be discussed and decisions that should be made but it isnt happening because of the diversion of the science. People who love science have an obligation not just to decision making based on evidence but also in considering the ethics of those decisions and the resulting consequences.