General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Sorry, Monsanto: The Science Is on Our Side, Not Yours [View all]FarrenH
(768 posts)Last edited Sun Mar 29, 2015, 08:41 PM - Edit history (13)
"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."
Even if this is the case its not really an argument against Golden Rice. If you want farmers to return to small-scale, more diverse farming methods, do something about it. Golden Rice does improve diets and health and has more chance of success in the near term. It's a very practical response because engineering more a diverse, sustainable agriculture in the region is not something that can be achieved in the same time-scales as getting supplementing the diets of millions with Golden Rice. Greenpeace isn't encouraging sustainable agriculture, just playing a destructive role in positive, humanitarian efforts. And as I said upthread, permaculture and genetic engineering aren't mutually exclusive, in fact genetic engineering can substantially improve permaculture and reduce negative environmental impact.
I agree, though, that the commercialization of farming under WTO provisions has had a horrible impact on agriculture in many developing countries. In my own country (South Africa) it's caused food prices to skyrocket as farmers who were once subsidized, protected (through guaranteed surplus purchases by the state) and bound by export and price restrictions to ensure food security have been incentivized to switch to export crops for higher profits. Unlike India, we haven't had the problem of smaller farmers falling victim to fickle markets, or the suicide-inducing debt that came with that.
The problem is more political than technological and I don't think the money spent on Golden Rice was poorly spent. But urgent reform of the WTO is required, as is full-throated resistance to TPP.