Judging GMOs Case by Case — The End of the U.S. Orange?

Anyone who’s spent time researching the GMO issue knows how heated the debate is.  In the Wild West known as YouTube comments, I was recently labeled as “dilusional” for questioning the validity of some pro-GMO research.   I’m sure after this post, someone will label me a GMO proponent — just another day in the life of a writer working amidst the GMO Controversy.

Yet, when labels are placed (or in some instances, not placed, like on GMO food), it forces you to determine where you stand, despite outside pressure. It’s a fine line between knowing what you believe and staying open to new ideas.

While I don’t agree with everything Bob Langert had to say in his article, perhaps there’s something to be said about evaluating GMOs on a case by case basis.

“Sustainability advocates can’t have it both ways,” he says. “If we want science to rule, we cannot bend when the science does not conform to our entrenched belief. I am on the side of the World Health Organization that says we should look at GMOs on a case-by-case basis.”

GMO Orange

Recently, he’s been tracking efforts to save the orange. 

GMOs are at the center of this life-or-death story. Splicing the DNA from spinach may prevent the “citrus greening” disease that is destroying oranges.  Without GMO intervention, we may not have oranges from the United States in our future.

If the consumer rejects the GMO orange, there may be unintended consequences:

According to Mike Aerts, director of production and supply-chain management at the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, we may end up eating Brazilian oranges, because they are allowed to spray more pesticides on their oranges than what is allowed in the United States.

In this instance, it may come down to a question of what is better: the GMO orange or the pesticide orange?  Of course there is another alternative. Stop eating oranges altogether. But there’s something to be said about GMOs saving the orange. Quite different than when it’s used in the processed foods that make us fat. In other words, evaluating GMOs case-by-case might deem this one respectable.

To read the article (written by Bob Langert) in its entirety, go to http://www.greenbiz.com/article/if-science-good-climate-change-why-not-gmos

Author: renezimbelman

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