Re: CONFESSIONS
"Sean A. O'Hara" wrote:
>
> Interesting thread.
>
> What I find worrisome about the trends in genetic manipulation
> are projects such as introducing genes into crop plants to
> make the impervious to herbicides - so that herbicides can be
> used with impunity! This is not the best approach. I would
> have assumed that scientists would be using this technology
> to introduce traits that would further adapt the plant to grow
> in the environment in which they grow. Instead, there is this
> concept that all crops SHOULD be able to be grown in ANY
> environment with the aid of chemicals or genetic modification.
Hi Sean
To enlarge on a couple of your points...
In practice there are in fact serious _disadvantages - to the general
environment in a modification which depends for its effectiveness in
copious use of weedkillers on resistant crops.
In Britain scientists have been alarmed by the virtual sterilization of
the landscape where Roundup-ready crops are being grown, every plant
except the actual crop being virtually wiped out. As many "weeds" play
an important part in the local ecosystem by providing food or shelter
for a vast array of organisms, this is having a severe effect on the
insect population and eventually on the local birds and other larger
creatures. In some cases at least it is probably increasing insect
attacks on the crops because the natural predators and competitors of
the pests have been driven away. This will of course tend to lead to
more need to spray rather than less.
>
> One of the most interesting situations I read about was
> concerning a village in the Andes of South America.
This is a most fascinating development. I think I had just heard of it
previously, but was delighted to get such a detailed account. I am
saving it in my flies as I am sure it will be of interest to some of the
people I meet in my lecturing.
>
> Westerners should drop this concept that we can somehow 'trick'
> the natural world into doing our bidding. Working with nature
> is the only way to ensure long-term success. Haven't we all
> seen enough disaster movies to figure this out!
I think when such westerners deal with third-World countries they are
far to quick to suggest off-the-peg answers and ignore local wisdom
which has usually come from spending many years, even centuries,
tailoring a local solution to an exact fit.
Best wishes
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand. (on the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
Lat. 41:16S Long. 174:58E. Climate: Mediterranean/Temperate
