Starved For Science?

I'm reading this book:  Starved For Science: How Biotechnology is being kept out of Africa. Being that I am going to be be researching this summer in agricultural biotechnology at the Danforth Center for Plant Science, I was very interested to read it.

I've always grown up with this untraceable notion that biotechnology (Genetic Engineering, really) was bad. That it was going against God's creation, going to destroy the ecosystem and bring doom us all. Even in the first few pages of this book I have realized my opinion was naive, at least when it comes to agricultural biotechnology.

I didn't realize how many GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms- what a scary phrase) are already being approved, grown and consumed by Americans. Yet, nothing has happened. In fact, there have been studies that have shown NO negative effects of GMOs on human health, and for as long as we've been consuming them, I trust theses studies.  For the people who are afraid it might destroy the ecosystem- it is even suggested that these GMOs may even help the environment by reducing the need for other toxic chemicals. To me- that's a good thing.

Now, I don't want to go on and on about all the things Paarlburg says in his book. I don't need to summarize it for anyone who actually reads this. But it is causing me to reflect. My speech final last year was a persuasive speech- and I gave it about genetic engineering. My argument? That it was going against God's creation, going to destroy the ecosystem and bring doom us all.  It was a pretty good speech, too. Boy, I'm starting to feel like a hypocrite. I realize now that I was mislead, under informed and accepted the majorities viewpoint.

This was the viewpoint of most Americans and Eurpeans. We're all scared of GMOs. Starved For Science has shown me that it is this uninformed fear has been keeping biotechnology and agricultural science, and therefore agricultural improvement, OUT of Africa- the place that needs it most. These technologies (not only biotechnology, but mechanical as well) helped America and Europe reach their agricultural stability. Now that we are stable, we see no benefit for GMOs, so why take the risk? (Even if there hasn't been one proven yet...) We are no longer struggling to put food on our tables, in fact, we probably have too much. Therefore, as a society, we have decided to protest genetically modified agriculture because we no longer need or notice the improvement these technologies can bring. Okay, we can be picky, we're well off enough. If we want to choose the organic pasta over the umpteen other types of pasta we are able to purchase, that's fine.  If we choose to buy the non-GMO corn over the GMO corn- more power to you!

Not the struggling farmer in Africa. The poor family who have to battle against drought and disease every year just to feed their family, let alone make a profit from it. We have the technologies to help their farms, but our fears have been cast upon these people. We decided that agricultural biotechnology was dangerous and scary, convinced the leaders of African countries of the same and have therefore barred the application of biotechnology in Africa. One leader even rejected corn aid from America because it was a GMO. African farmers do not have the access to the technologies that helped America and Europe develop to the agricultural stability they have now. Essentially, they are stuck.

I've probably lost a lot of readers, and I'm only part way through Chapter 2. This book is rocking my world, showing me that I need to reconsider by opinions and become more informed. About any opinion that I hold. I urge you to do the same. The world is a big place, and I never thought that a speech I did my freshman year of college could have an impact on the fields in Africa. Jeepers.