Posted on 06/13/2014 11:11:49 AM PDT by Rusty0604
In 1995, American agriculture underwent a profound, dangerous change.
In that year, Monsanto and other companies pushed through approval for a handful of genetically modified (GM) organisms. These included canola oil tweaked to improve its flavor, potatoes modified to resist pesticide dousing, and tomatoes gene-spliced to delay ripening.
This deal, struck between crony capitalists and their congressional toadies in Washington, marked the beginning of a disturbing trend.
Today, the U.S. leads the world in the production of GM food crops.
In fact, about half of all the crops planted on American farmland are genetically modified. This includes about 85% of the corn and 91% of the soybeans.
This would all be fine if the claims made about GM crops were true.
Genetic modification is profoundly different from older methods of boosting crop size, yield, or other genetic traits. Rather than patiently coaxing a natural, advantageous gene exchange between two plants within a species, genetic engineers use bizarre tools to force such transfers across species barriers.
Big Food creates these “transgenic” foods for a variety of reasons. Nearly all of them benefit agribusiness rather than, say, you. Extended shelf life is a biggie — semi-immortal tomatoes reduce spoilage and goose profits.
Another major driver is increased pest resistance. Many GM crops can create proteins that are toxic to pests, reducing the need to spray on expensive pesticides. Again, fabulous for agribiz, but — since the poison is now part of the plant’s tissue and can’t be washed off — not so good for you
....corn and soy engineered to create their own insecticides “are now everywhere in our environment… But are these insecticidal plants regulated, and have their proteins been tested for safety? Not by the federal departments in charge of food safety, not in Canada, and not in the U.S.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailyreckoning.com ...
how can it be that in the best country in the world, the once leader of the free market, can have almost all of its crops beholden to one monstrous company?
as far as tomatoes go...you can’t beat an old fashioned New Jersey ripened big ol fat juicy tomato....
Oh noes, scary technology.
I much prefer my heirloom seeds with which I can ensure harvest for years to come. I’ve perfected the layering method combined with trench composting. I don’t even till anymore. I can plant more plants closer together, get great yields, and the layering prevents weeds. No Roundup needed! All pests are eliminated with Neem oil, fencing, or my air rifle (we live inside city limits). Suck it Monsanto.
Reduced spoilage doesn't benefit me?
“Oh noes, scary technology.”
Oh noes, control of my food supply.
I’ll stick with my non-engineered stuff, fencing, mulch and the natural insecticides a poster already mentioned. I’m really not into chemicals for human consumption...
That's more than a little paranoid.
But so is the original article.
How long are the seeds good before you plant them?
Where does the article say that? I see where it says "genetic engineers use bizarre tools".
Then why do you think farmers buy the seed? They have choices. There are plenty of non-GM seeds available.
Aside from the superior mental powers of Monsanto and Pioneer and Sygenta salesmen executing mind melds with unsuspecting farmers (the Greenpeace theory, as I understand it), what other hypothesis do you propose?
It is a choice-we are all free to do as we like-you can choose to use chemical laced food if you like, and I will choose to eat only food that is chemical free and not processed. The article just provides information we can either use or ignore...
Increasing harvest yields also just ‘benefit agribusiness’ too. /sarc
It’s the classic, ‘they only do it for the profit’ ruse.
Right. It’s not like our government would release terrorists, allow illegals to flood over the border, give arms and cash to evil tyrants and terrorists, allow an ambassador to be murdered without retribution, out CIA operatives, death panel our vets, flood the market with fiat currency, over regulate industry to the point were it’s not worth opening a business, allow China (the melamine in animal treats and baby formula folks) to process and package American chicken for human consumption, and bring down our entire healthcare system. Your right. No worries about our food supply at all. I’ll just march out back and apply salt liberally to my garden. I do not need it.
It depends on the type of plant. Each year germination rates are less. I’ve successfully planted two year old green bean and tomato seeds. I’ve not had that kind of luck with pepper plants though.
It’s so scary cheap to grow your own food if you have even a postage stamp back yard. And if you grow an open pollinated variety and learn to save the seeds from that, it’s even cheaper. And every bite you get from your own yard makes you a little more resilient to a supply chain disruption.
“In 1995, American agriculture underwent a profound, dangerous change.”
What exactly is so dangerous? Not your “feelings” about GM foods, mind you, I am asking for actual, documented dangers.
Unless you’re self-sufficient, someone is always controlling your food supply.
I do still buy my onion sets and seed potatoes, but other than canning lids and freezer bags there really is no expense. Ok, maybe the electricity to run an extra freezer. Each year through layer/lasagna gardening our gardens get bigger. It’s less hubby has to mow, too!
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