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Trade relations between the U.S. and Europe have been strained over genetically altered farm products. Large American food producers—many of which now call themselves “life science” companies—trumpet their claims that in order to feed the future world of 6 billion souls and more, that a new class of crops must be developed. These are the “Frankenfoods,” so-called by opponents, that they only half-jokingly suggest might well be created by a mad scientists in basement laboratories.

Of course nothing could be so simple as that when the issue of genetically modified (GM) food sources surmount the boundaries of natural processes. To the boiling scientific controversy, add human perceptions based on an imperfect understanding of the subject.

Defenders of the new genetic engineering processes will suggest that their aim is to merely update what has already been widely accepted; that crossbreeding plant species for genetic advantage has been going on for hundreds of years.

What’s in the Package

Genetic selection occurs through both the random action of nature as well as by the hand of man. Mixed-breed dogs are probably the most common and commonly visible hybrids. Evidence of GM corn, potatoes and other crops, however, is not so apparent and drives one of the controversial issues—labeling. Should consumers know exactly what they are getting? Should it be apparent that a crop contains a pesticide that cannot be washed off the fruit and is consumed with it? Genes, borrowed from Brazil nuts to boost soybeans’ nutrition, carried with them the capacity to set off a reaction in those with nut allergies.

Traditional hybridization has caused no particular concern among the general population. Perhaps this was because the process was straight forward and essentially the same as the genetic mixing among human families. The traditional methods were expensive, often taking decades to achieve the desired, reproducible traits in plants through careful crossbreeding and evaluation. Who could argue that drought or disease resistance were not good if they had been achieved through a little creative matchmaking?

Biotechnology Revolution

But what if there were a way to produce a hybrid possessing all the desirable qualities in a short time? Much of the time, guesswork and chance could be eliminated while potential profits increase.

What if a way could be developed using a cafeteria-style selection of genes for crops that would resist disease, produce more nutritious fruits and grains in a shorter time and grow in hostile environments? Would not such plants relieve the tragedy of hunger around the world?

Not only could hunger be addressed with such technology, but scientists suggest that it will be possible to grow plastics and cotton for clothing which has an integral polyesther component.

A miracle begging for implementation! But critics demand we slow down to carefully evaluate whether these genetically engineered plants could possess any of the “monster” tendencies that opponents warn of; whether the monster might escape and run amok.

Growing Concern

Already as much as 45 percent of the nation’s corn and soybeans are produced using genetically altered seed. Hundreds of other crop seeds are under development, receiving genes directly from other plants and organisms—even fish and animals. According to scientists on both sides of the question, U.S. Department of Agriculture approvals for use of the new GM cropseed come quickly—perhaps too quickly. There is growing evidence that USDA approvals may be “rubber stamped” and perhaps based on flawed studies or sample sizes that are too small to be statistically significant.

Studies suggest genetic crop engineering could cause predatory insects to very rapidly evolve pesticide resistance or spawn new plant diseases and kill beneficial insects or limit their impact.

There is already clear evidence that genetically modified biotech (Bt) corn can be deadly to migrating Monarch butterflies. The insects can come in contact with GM corn pollen that has been carried on the wind out of its own fields. The pesticide effects can be deadly to the butterfly larvae.

Squashed

Consider the yellow crookneck squash that is susceptible to invasion by viruses that can make the harvest unsalable.

Incorporating certain genes from the virus itself into the squash DNA imbues the squash with resistance to the damaging virus. This genetically modified squash was petitioned to the USDA for deregulation as a crop, freeing it for the market, in the early 1990s.

Fear existed that the new squash could crossbreed with wild squash plants and produce a weed that possessed a similar resistance to viral infection. This led to further study to determine whether the wild plants were susceptible to virus—whether viruses operated to keep the weed under control; whether its resistance might allow it to proliferate without a natural check. The study—which was performed by the company that developed the engineered squash—reported the wild plants they studied showed no evidence of being affected by viruses.

Scientists inside and outside the company agreed that the study was flawed. The sample size of 14 wild squash plants from 9 sites was too small to allow for a reliable conclusion.

The Future

Clearly, the economic pressure to bring GM foods to market is intense, but the potential for unintended, and perhaps, dire consequences is real.

At S&S Seeds, our policy is clear. We will not knowingly sell genetically modified products until reproducible, independent, statistically significant testing proves them to be safe.

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