2018 was a year of climate turmoil, with it being fourth consecutive warmest year according to the NOAA, as well as NASA. NASA points out the 2015 seems to be the warmest on record. Anyhow, I wanted to bring up this topic for various reasons: The implications of Climate Change in the medical field and if there is a possibility for the biotechnologies to help with this change if it continues to progress at its rate.
Some scientist agree that climate change calls upon the ethical principle of prevention. The topic of combating clime change tends to dominate the discourse, however, I will focus more on the
adaptation process (since CC is something that is undeniably happening). So what are the possible impacts on the health of not only humans but also the eco system? Some scientist believe that the impact will range from a higher rate of diseases, possible food shortage and more severe weather. Since agricultural biotechnology focuses on stabilizing certain crops I was wondering what could be some concerns regarding this option in addressing food shortages that will affect many societies economically?
With this recently new health wave that has attached a negative connotation to the idea of GMO's,
will the societal push back not only slow progression but allow detrimental policies to prevent further advancements? Not only that but there already seems to be an opposition to the idea of GMO, according to a project called Non-GMO (clever) claiming that the effects on human as well as the environment are still unknown because of its relative newness. They also bring up the issue of being able to patent seeds and ultimately punish famers whose farms have been contaminated with the seed.
Let me know what you guys think about this.
Here are my sources:
https://www.nongmoproject.org/gmo-facts/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2253589/
I think it's a terrible thing when a farmer could be fined an exorbitant amount for the accidental introduction of GMO crop into their farm.
ReplyDeleteGMOs aren't really Frankenfoods, are they? Or do we just not know?
ReplyDeleteDid you see the rollout of AOC's Green New Deal? https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/07/climate/green-new-deal.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage
"gmo pros and cons" -
Deletehttps://www.google.com/search?q=gmos+pros+and+cons&rlz=1C1GCEV_en&oq=GMOs+p&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i57j0l4.3547j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
This is a quick informational video about The New Green Deal
ReplyDeletehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3OMGQoXEVE0
Also, I think the danger of (yes I watched Robert Kennedy’s affirmation speech) expediency in society can only have negative consequences and deviate plans of prevention. It’s saddening to think that generations to come will look back and fix an issue we claimed was “too expensive”.
ReplyDeleteCurrently, we do not have a lot of research on genetically modified foods when it comes to ingrown herbicides and insecticides. However, that has not stopped selective breeding before. The fruits and vegetables you see in the store are not the original plants found all over the world. Farmers picked what seeds to plant and over centuries. Corn, a huge staple of American agriculture, has changed so much. https://geneticliteracyproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/evocorn.jpg
ReplyDeleteAccording to the FDA, geneticly modified plants for human consumption have to go through the same process as traditionaly grown foods. Foods that, arguably, are more modified than the seeds grown in a lab. https://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GEPlants/default.htm
Conversly, the lack of variation is a problem. Many regulations on modified fish require them to be sterile even if they are grown in a farm. This prevents an accidental exposure of the wild to a fish that can store more food and out survive much of the population or ecosystem. http://time.com/4120648/fda-approved-aquabounty-gmo-salmon/
There are many concerns but above all, consumers control the market. Education can prevent issues to the caliber of major misunderstandings but if the risks are acceptable, Americans will find a way.