WHAT ARE THE MAJOR ISSUES IN AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY?
Critics of agricultural biotechnology, or genetically modified field crops have these concerns: • we could end up creating new super weeds or hyper-resistant pests; • we may destroy or reduce ecological biodiversity • there could be damage to small farm incomes • global food systems could be disrupted • jump from the pesticide treadmill onto the genetic “fix it” treadmill • we will continue reliance on monoculture practices • fail to develop truly sustainable agricultural practices • Unforeseen environmental problems could result from releasing genetically modified plants • Multinational companies will patent and control seed stocks of the world Critics ask: what do we know about transgenic crops crossing with wild varieties? Do we know how genetic diversity might be affected should transgenic plants transfer genes to traditional varieties? They also raise questions about the risks to human health. Proponents of agricultural biotechnology argue that: • These novel plants will result in
