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Re: Unidentified subject!

Excellent point.    I think that many of unusual genetic combinations that
are being done in "traditional" plant breeding are agreably just as
"unnatural" as any genetic material brought in by laboratory technique. 
However; in general I have a decent comfort level with them, and don't mind
using them.  I think that organic minded growers should embrace these new
developements and use them in their production systems since they often
offer great characteristics that can help manage some weed, insect, and
disease problems.   

Rick

----------
> From: Michael D. Cook <mikecook@pipeline.com>
> To: veggie-list@eskimo.com
> Subject: Re: Unidentified subject!
> Date: Monday, February 23, 1998 9:59 PM
> 
> At 08:12 PM 2/23/98 -0600, you wrote:
> >I would like to take up an intelligent and educated discussion on this
> >topic.   I don't want to start a bitter or irrational arguement about
this
> >issue, but I would like to hear your opinion on why you feel anything
> >"genetically altered"  or treated with radiation cannot be organic.    
> 
> Hi.  Doesn't the word 'organic' have a specific definition as far as the
> USDA is
> concerned?  I am sure that it does, but don't know what the boundaries of
> that definition are.  That would be a good place for the discussion to
> start, since I imagine that is what the flap is about.
> 
> After all, by using a dictionary definition, genetically altered and
> irradiated foods are not any less 'organic' than those not so treated. 
The
> USDA's intention is the meat of the question.  I believe people fear that
> consumers will see a food labelled 'organic' and interpret that as
'safe',
> and some don't believe irradiated or genetically altered foods ARE
> safe...or wholesome.  
> 
> As far as I am concerned, hybrids, naturally-occurring mutations, and
> chimeral rearrangements are genetic alterations.  Interspecific hybrids
are
> commonplace in breeding programs involving many plant genera;
intergenetic
> hybrids are pretty unnatural, and I believe the problem some people have
> with them, as well as with gene splicing (where a gene from a bacteria or
> other completely different organism is integrated into a plant's system -
> splicing may not be the correct term) is that there is no predicting how
> this will pan out in future generations.  I am not sure why people would
> reject irradiation of foods, as I understand it doesn't render the foods
> radioactive or otherwise dangerous.  Maybe someone can enlighten me about
> this.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Sheila Smith
> mikecook@pipeline.com
> Z 5/6
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