Comments on: Syngenta: Use GMOs To Boost Turkey’s Agricultural Sector

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 18:10:48 +0000

One reason that GMOs won’t reduce hunger is that they are not designed to increase yields. The GMOs currently being grown are modified to be herbicide tolerant or to contain the Bt insecticide – nothing to do with increased yields – and in many places have failed to deliver. eg Bt cotton farmers in China have increased pesticide use in the long-run, not to mention being financially crippled by high seed costs.

Also, most GM currently being grown are either corn or soya – largely used for animal feed or processed food.

In contrast, in many developing world modern organic farming has been proven to significantly increase yields compared to traditional farming methods – without using expensive imported inputs or polluting the land without agrochemicals. There is a huge, growing market for organic produce. However, no retail market exists for fresh GM produce – and many supermarket chains refuse to sell it.

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 21:41:41 +0000

Some countries do have concerns, but, whether right or wrong — it seems like more are moving towards them rather than away. Even Europe has shown signs of wavering. Do you think that trend will continue, Tafline?

By: Tafline Laylin

Tafline Laylin — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 19:37:01 +0000

Thanks Steve.

If there are no concerns, then why are certain governments continuing to refuse them?

By: Steve Savage

Steve Savage — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 18:38:48 +0000

You are more than a decade too late with your list of worries. People have been thinking through all these issues since the mid 1980s and you raise no new issues I didn’t hear discussed at length and carefully considered in safety protocols since that time. GMO crops have been commercial on a huge scale since 1996 – billions of acres have been cultivated all around the world. At some point, the logic and the history of GMO crop safety have to become convincing to even the biggest skeptic.

If Turkey wishes to remain in the last century or to go back another one, that is their choice. For the sake of the poorer people of the world, just hope that someone else does what is necessary to keep the world fed.

Steve Savage, Ph.D. (have been tracking GMOs since 1977)