“I am all for a world of diversity, but that means one farming system cannot claim to have a monopoly of virtue and aim at excluding all other options. Why can’t we have peaceful co-existence? This is particularly the case when it shackles us to old technologies which have higher inherent risks than the new.”
Mark Lynas, a former anti-biotechnology activist, spoke these words last week at the Oxford Farming Conference.
Mr. Lynas spent many years demonizing and vilifying biotechnology, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the companies that researched, developed and produced them. He accomplished this by spreading fear and
”…employed a lot of imagery about scientists in their labs cackling demonically as they tinkered with the very building blocks of life. Hence the Frankenstein food tag – this absolutely was about deep-seated fears of scientific powers being used secretly for unnatural ends.”
However, as he pursued accurate scientific information for his book on global warming he came upon a realization that possibly he was wrong about GMO food. In his words:
“I discovered science, and in the process I hope I became a better environmentalist.”
Diversity, Coexistence & Acceptance. I thought this was the world we lived in. However, it seems to be lacking in agriculture.
It is happening all across the country when it comes to food, fiber and fuel. It is happening on two different fronts in Oregon. In Southern Oregon one group seeks to ban the growing of all Genetically Modified Crops in the area. In the Willamette Valley farmers seek to ban the growing of canola.
Both groups claim to be concerned about cross contamination but they must look at the bigger picture. They are limiting everyone’s freedoms by establishing these bans. They lose the option to participate in current or future markets, eliminating crop diversity and hindering consumer choice.
I am not one for holding hands and singing Kum-ba-yah to settle a disagreement, but there is no scientific absolute reason for both of these bans. What ever happened to being neighborly? Being considerate of what your neighbor is growing and he likewise of you?
I don’t think Mark Lynas’ words could be any truer.
“I am all for a world of diversity, but that means one farming system cannot claim to have a monopoly of virtue and aim at excluding all other options. Why can’t we have peaceful co-existence? This is particularly the case when it shackles us to old technologies which have higher inherent risks than the new.”
Related articles
- Organic farmers in southern Oregon seek ban on genetically modified crops (oregonlive.com)
- Mark Tercek: Mark Lynas and the GMO Debate (huffingtonpost.com)
I agree that many times we lose sight of the larger picture, but there are other issues at stake here and I think that you have to always look at both sides. When you say that “They lose the option to participate in current or future markets, eliminating crop diversity and hindering consumer choice” that may be true for one side’s argument. But on the other side they are looking at markets that could disappear and customers that say that they will leave the Willamette Valley behind if there is a change in the ban. I liked what you are getting at in your blog today but I disagree that the only reason for the canola issue is all about science. There is a lot to be said for infrastructure, markets that are in place now, and what has happened in other seed growing areas in the world that no longer exists.
I do think that we need to look at ways to compromise on the canola issue; and make sure to work with both sides so that farmers have options, and markets that are currently here can stay in place. The GMO issue is another 2 page comment, totally in agreement with you on that one (singing Kum-ba-ya the whole time
)
We are unique in the Valley with our high quality & pure speciality seed industry which is why companies do business here. You are correct about that, but what about the farmers such as myself who’s soil cannot necessarily grow speciality seed but can grow Canola?
I believe there are lots of other options for this “issue” other than an outright ban. In Central Oregon, they grow carrot seed that requires 3-5 miles of isolation depending on the variety and the seed cannot be in the same field every year. Granted one company does the majority of the contracting but they have a map of the previous 5 years carrot fields to make sure cross contamination does not happen.
Obviously, it’s a very complicated situation.
I appreciate your thoughts!
Great points! The only sentence that really concerns me comes from this part of the quote from Mr. Lynas, “This is particularly the case when it shackles us to old technologies which have higher inherent risks than the new.” That sentence could be taken in so many ways. Today’s farms use many technologies, regardless of method. Conventional farms use seeds that tolerate chemicals, organic farmers use natural seed breeding techniques to improve seed stock. We both use modern farm equipment, with many adopting precision planting and guidance systems. We both are heavily reliant on weather, and things out of human control. When you look at the big picture, we are not as different as some would want others to believe.
Thanks for your thoughts…I would love it if we could all coexist!
Thanks for the comment, I really appreciate your perspective!
Pingback: Not All Bills Are Bad | oregongreen