Biotechnology
Biotechnology holds the very real promise to feed more people on less land using less water - producing foods that are genetically enriched with vaccines, antibiotics, nutrients, flavours and chemicals. Some of these alterations are for the purpose of harvesting fruits while they are green and hard but will ripen during shipping or storage. They also aim for a uniform size, colour and appearance. Producers also prefer foods with tougher skins that will prevent damage during shipping, reduce moisture loss and prolong shelf life. While potentially reducing food waste, there is the possibility of altered nutritional values and flavours. These foods could give the illusion that they are fresher than they are, but because foods continually lose nutrients upon harvest, the consumer could be fooled into buying a nutritionally compromised product.
Genetically modified (GM) plants can also contain foreign genes from animals, like fish and pigs, (bad news for the vegetarian), or chemicals used to control pests, such as 'Round-up' or BT (genetic material extracted from a soil bacteria: Bacillus Thuringiensis). These crops are developed to support commercial growers that desire the convenience of being able to spray, killing the weeds or pests without harming the crop. Yet, pests and weeds build up a tolerance over time making this an endless cycle, and these aren’t the only dangers. In Thailand, 30% of their bee population died in areas where BT cotton was being tested and in North America BT corn proved toxic to monarch butterflies. Wind also plays an issue; an organic grower can be contaminated and lose his certification as well as his crop sales for the year. There is also the issue of new recombinant compounds. Consider the now infamous case of the GM Brazil nuts that were modified with soybean genes and this resulted in numerous severe allergic reactions.
No matter how you weigh in on this issue, biotechnology is a part of our future. To blindly reject, or accept, the potential of this science is not wise. Already successes have been attained in places like Eastern Kenya where disease-free GM bananas saved people from starvation. Another success for rural India where they created a specially designed sweet potato that offered a population a vital nutrient they were missing in their diet. Yet in order for any hope to be had, a huge genetic bank is necessary.
It is vital to understand that the world is robbed every time we lose a plant species in nature or in agriculture. We have no idea what kind of benefits these plants may have. How do we know if a particular variety may hold our only hope of dealing with acid rain or climate changes? We could lose the cure for cancer without even knowing it.
Growing crops that
your grandparents, or great-grandparents, can remember from their youth can be
quite an experience for the whole family. Seeing the exotic array of colours,
shapes and flavours on your kitchen table that cannot be found in grocery
stores, is a thrill on its own. These are the benefits of growing non-hybrid
crops.
You
can make a difference, starting right where you are simply by passing on the
information and sharing links to events on your social media networks. Choosing
open-pollinated varieties when purchasing any garden or flower seed is a way
you can support biodiversity. Using organic methods is a way you can preserve
the environment from contaminated ground water and poisoned plants. Try saving
some seeds and sharing them with friends, and don’t forget to support local
fairs, markets and seed exchange events. As a final note, please visit seed
saving organization websites (i.e. www.seeds.ca) where you can find a variety
of ways to help save seeds from extinction.
