Continued from Yesterday
But those two scientific groups also raised questions about the long-term effects of the technology. The National Academy panel said regulators should more closely scrutinize the environmental impact of genetically altered plants and should monitor fields after approval for unforeseen problems.
"Is it safe?" asked Brent McCown, a horticulturist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who uses the technology.
"I believe it is. This is an incredibly powerful science, and it is so powerful that we will never put it back in the box. We have to accept that it is here to stay."
Stewart, author of "Living on a Genetically Modified Planet," said that genetic engineering only allows plant breeders to do more quickly what they have always done: breed crops for desired characteristics.
"You are under much more risk from food-borne pathogens," such as salmonella and E. coli, than from genetically modified organisms, Stewart said.
Jim Lange's 2,000 acres of farmland in the Town of Norway in northern Racine County is increasingly being encroached on by urbanization. He uses two gene-altered varieties of corn and soybeans that allow him to cut down his use of pesticides - something he said that many of his neighbors appreciate.
All of the soybeans he plants are so-called Roundup Ready - the trade name for seeds that contain a gene that is resistant to the herbicide Roundup. About 60 percent of his corn has a toxin-producing gene that protects against the infestation of the European corn borer.
Roundup Ready soybeans let farmers spray the powerful herbicide on soybeans without harming them. The result: He saves money, has fewer weed problems and spends less time tilling the soil.
"They are a good risk-management tool for farmers," Lange said
Continued Tomorrow
http://newhope360.com/genetically-modified-foods-becoming-staple-americas-diet
http://www.depsyl.com/
http://back2basicnutrition.com/
http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com/
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