General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Sorry, Monsanto: The Science Is on Our Side, Not Yours [View all]druidity33
(6,444 posts)to avoid pesticides and herbicides? Are you talking about Bt?
"What's even worse, according to some of the life scientists I know, is that organic farmers often use far less regulated and studied combinations of herbicide and pesticide that are potentially far worse for both human health and/or the environment. "
I submit these "Organic farmers" you're speaking of aren't really Organic. I live in an agricultural area with PRIMARILY small Organic farms. The farmers i know rarely spray anything, and if they do they are foliar feeding with compost tea or spraying a homemade concoction of pepper or nettles or rosemary, etc. for pests.
I agree with some of your other points. What i don't like is people conflating a desire to not consume GMOs with being anti-science.
The Golden Rice debate is emblematic of the difference between my Organic/Permaculture perspective and the corporate NGO perspective. Originally farmers there grew regional, high-nutrient crops (millet, sorghum, etc) in smaller local widely dispersed areas. As the advent of commercial ag took over, they were pushed into monoculture and pesticide use, laden with debt, farmers were subsidized and sold rice (remember Golden Rice was originally intended to have a Terminator gene), ... a crazy cycle that has led to many suicides and the malnourishment of millions.
The hundreds of millions of dollars the Gates foundation spent to develop Golden Rice could have been spent reintroducing traditional crops with balanced nutrients on sustainable farms placed locally for distribution. Look to Kerala (or even Cuba) for some examples. Last i heard we could supply the continent of India with Vit A pills for 30 years for just under $2 million. Remember that old saw "Give a man a fish vs. Teach a man to fish..."?