29-03-2003, 19:37 | |
Is GE Safe?
No Adequate Testing. The reason that genetically engineered food could be dangerous is because there has been no adequate testing to ensure that extracting genes that perform an apparently useful function as part of that plant or animal is going to have the same effects if inserted into a totally unrelated species. It may be that in the long term, genetically modified food could provide us with benefits and be a safe alternative, but we cannot know that at this time due to the lack of safety testing. The testing that has been done is often to ensure the crop grows. There has been less emphasis on testing the effects or testing the wider ecology and the associated impacts. Bit Different to the way Nature Works Crossbreeding by farmers and evolution by Nature, has always involved gene transfer between similar species, not completely different species like a fish and a potato. With the increasing drive for maximized productivity and profits, the diversity of crops used is being reduced. If the diversity is reduced enough the benefits that the diversity gives -- resistance to disease, better ability to cope with environmental extremes, increased yields etc. -- is also reduced. Scientists have warned that non-target species can be affected by genetically modified food. They also urge a precautionary approach to allow science, law and regulations to catch up with the advances that have been made. Some GM crops still seem to require pesticide use as well. Long Term Effects are Unknown Even if there has been some testing, the long term effects to humans, animals and the environment are unknown. The full ramifications of modified genes "escaping" and mixing with unmodified ones are unknown. It may be that genetically modified food can benefit us, but we cannot know that at this time because much needed testing has not been done and current studies point to dangers rather than benefits. However, a group of scientists in UK do claim that GE food may be safe, but mention that the long-term effects are still unknown. (Also, note that a lot of field tests that companies do perform are aimed at assuring that their products are grown as expected, not always necessarily looking into wider effects.) Reducing Pesticides, Increased Yields? Part of the promising and exciting aspects of biotechnology is that it could perhaps reduce harmful pesticide use, and increase yields to help provide food for the hungry and large world population. However: -As this article points out, pesticide usage has actually remained the same, or even increased, with the use of GE food. And the companies that make pesticides are the ones that also make GE food ingredients. (See the previous link for many more interesting points). -The Institute for Science in Society reports, for example, that as well as pesticde usage increasing, yields have been lower with GM Crops. So why are they still being given the go-ahead? *One reason is that there is a lot of money and profit involved in this. Hence from a business perspective it is more favorable, for example to produce crops that can be resistant to your pesticides (so that you can apply more of them). If you are a chemical company that produces pesticides as well as GM crops, then this is a good way to sell both products, as Monsanto do for example with their Roundup Ready GM Soybeans. (The Monsanto section on this site will discuss this a bit more.) *Another reason seems to be that in campaigns and referendums, a lot of emphasis is put on the fact that transgenic research-animals would help in the field of medicine and so distorts the purpose of the referendums that are usually about patent and food related effects of genetic modifications. Dit is pas het begin van de artikel. voor de volledige artikel kijk hier: http://www.globalissues.org/EnvIssues/GEFood.asp mijn mening: ik vind GE oke als het om het maken van insuline en zo gaat. het is beter dan insuline uit varkens, maar voor de rest hoeft het niet voor mij. GE soja smaakt voor mij hetzelfde als normale soja dus waarom die risico nemen.
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Stars shine bright, but the light rarely stays on
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30-03-2003, 20:25 | ||
Citaat:
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deegrol -=- DUVEL -=- *is lief*
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31-03-2003, 17:07 | ||
Citaat:
Monsanto mag alles doen voor zoveel mogelijk omzet zolang ze maar 10% aan de regering betalen. maar sinds wanneer heeft de vs goeie wetten? maar als ze echt goeie wetten hebben waarom zijn ze er dan tegen dat er goeie wetten internationaal worden ingevoerd?
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Stars shine bright, but the light rarely stays on
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