What do you think of “Terminator Technology” used to make plants infertile after one growing season?

In my opinion, crop monoculture and the associated loss of biodiversity (#2 in your list) is a far more serious issue with far-reaching consequences. GM technology on the other hand, is widely misunderstood and scapegoated as This Evil Thing, when it has as much potential to do good as to do harm. Monsanto may not be 'good', but it's like any company that's only interested in big bucks. Blaming the technology because you dislike the company is the wrong way to go about things, IMO. It's too bad that GM technology is monopolized by a few big MNCs.

#1 is more disturbing from an economic/political standpoint because of its effects on farmers in developing countries. The biological/environmental concerns are vastly overrated. The genes that make the crop sterile are not easily transferred to other crops, and even if they are, natural selection takes care of the 'problem'.

I'm not saying TT is a 'good' technology, but it is no worse than any of the other more subtle methods developed countries use to maintain economic control over other nations. It should not be used as the poster child for GMOs either.

If it weren't for GM technology, we would still be butchering and bleeding animals for vaccines and insulin and stripping forests free of valuable wild plants for drugs. All of the crops we eat today have been genetically modified by natural means (breeding), even though is is harder to track and control than artificial modification where only one or two genes are involved.

At this point, none of the food crops on the market have animal genes in them, and it probably will stay that way due to public pressure. I just find it funny when people bring up the 'fish tomato' even though that was pulled a decade ago.

I should point out though, that transferring an animal gene into a plant does not make the plant 'more animal'. It just induces the plant to manufacture that desired protein. In many ways this supports the vegan philosophy, because it ensures that that animal may not be exploited for that particular purpose any more. Of course, it depends on what the trait is. A very good example is vegetarian rennet (bacteria). Without GM technology, all rennet would be calf rennet. The driver behind all this is economics, not ethics, but sometimes it does fall in line with veg*nism.

This is a good question and beyond the scope of this forum. Fannylight makes a good start. In 2010, I ran a solar greenhouse experiment with the stated goal of maintaining photosynthetic activity through the winter months for biosequestration of excess nutrients from municipal wastewater. The plants that had very high productivity in the summer months did not grow well in the winter, despite the surplus of nutrients and day temperatures 30 C above ambient. My collaborator (a biologist) suggested that a seasonal crop rotation using plants adapted for low light in the winter might increase overall photosynthetic productivity. Due to budget constraints, we did not test that hypotheis. I think the problem posed is an open question in science that will be settled by experiment.

Oh I agree. This is all scary business. I was certain, though, that the Monsato patent is Canadian?

I have a very difficult time with "Dr. Weil" and his uber support of Canola. Why do we need a genetically engineered oil when olive is so healthy? How can anyone claim "organic canola" when the canola itself is GM? I've seen the stuff labeled organic. It's just so wrong!

Why do we need rice spliced with human liver genes? Why do we need tomato spliced with animal genes?

It's insane!

Compounded with the fact that no one can stop cross pollination. Pretty soon all plants will have terminator potential. Then where will we be?

They estimate that this nation could run out of grain within the next few years. 10 years ago we were already running short. Now we've reached critical levels. Estimations do not take terminator technology into account.

We have so polluted our environment that the sensitive bees are dying off. How will any pollination take place?

I'm not too concerned simply because there is a huge heirloom plant movement and while that will never apply to "big agriculture", I have the ability to grow a diverse crop in my own backyard.

Even people in the inner city can provide some of their own food if they use resources like community gardens....

My dad farms and it amazes me how much he spends on seed every ear (although corn prices were at an all time high this year so he made out well)

Genetically modified plants scare me, but at the same time I don't want some genetically modified seed reproducing itself after one harvest. Who knows what may happen. I believe this technology is a safeguard too.

Yes, it's true, the Chem-Agro companies (like Monsanto, as you mention) are using all sorts of tricks to insure that farmers have to buy their seed every year.

Have you read Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma? It's a real eye-opener about today's industrial food system.

I think it's interesting. So you're saying the seeds that are produced by the crops can't be used to grow a new crop?

The plants in my area die after the growing season because of winter. What crops last for more than one growing season anyways?

That info. on Rumsfeld-Monsanto-Reagan-aspartame was quite interesting.

Thanks for pointing to this all important issue and for referencing my review of Andrew Kimbrell's book Your Right to Know. The more attention that is brought to bear on this issue the better off we all will be. And yes, you are right, it is pretty disturbing information.

The responses you are getting are pretty telling aren't they? It amazes me that some people who have no knowledge about a situation, and do no research on it can speak so authoritatively about issues that impact us all and condemn the source out of hand. Just demonstrates that not everyone is a Lover of Truth. I'm glad that you are.

And thanks for directing those who are truth seekers to the information via http://www.your-vegetarian-kitchen.com/y...

And thanks to LeCe too. I'll check out Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma.

vegetarins-kitchen dot com

a radical web...?

what would be the reason to offer genetically nonreproductive seed stock for any profit??

terminator tec

JUST another SCARE tactice of the silly food freaks..

PS :: if the smarties know how to do it they must ALSO,, follow to know how to make it better.bigger healthier..