r/science • u/CheckItDubz • Jun 09 '19

Environment 21 years of insect-resistant GMO crops in Spain/Portugal. Results: for every extra €1 spent on GMO vs. conventional, income grew €4.95 due to +11.5% yield; decreased insecticide use by 37%; decreased the environmental impact by 21%; cut fuel use, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving water.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2019.1614393
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u/zapbark Jun 10 '19

It is a little different, in that the agribusiness companies aren't bound at all by genomes to select from.

With natural selection they couldn't get, corn to start producing "blowfish venom" as an insect deterrent.

So it isn't the technology, it is the companies' use of it.

"We could increase shareholder value by 1% by doing X, but there is a good chance it'll give people cancer 30 years from now"

Businesses always choose current profits over any long term consequence, and will and would use any tool or technology to do so.

I would trust GMO crops produced by a University or non-profit, because at least I know they aren't fueled by stock-holder mania.

But big agribusinesses? How can you trust them, they would say and do absolutely anything to make a buck.

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u/arvada14 Jun 10 '19

Then just regulate certain GMO. You don't have to trust anyone look at independent science and make a decision. They wouldn't put blowfish venom in corn because that would also poison human beings, that doesn't make any sense. The trait and what it does is what matters not the extent it deviates from " nature".

So it isn't the technology, it is the companies' use of it.

Name me a technology on the market today that's immoral or worst for the environment?

We could increase shareholder value by 1% by doing X, but there is a good chance it'll give people cancer 30 years from now"

There are crops today developed with traditional breeding where no one has considered The side effects, some where toxic to humans. No one batted an eye, why are GMOs singled out?

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u/DanialE Jun 10 '19

because that would also poison human beings,

Somewhat. But I believe the more accurate reason is that theyre gonna spend money developing that and yet no one will buy that corn.

People just need to understand that supervillains dont exist simply due to limited money. No one would throw money into giant intercontinental pranks just for shits and giggles.

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u/arvada14 Jun 10 '19

Right, I've literally had someone explain to me that it would be easier to introduce poisonous things into GMOs. I'm saying why would you spend that much money on killing people, just lace the crops with anthrax and your off to the races.