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Responses (2) to "In response to the question of useing genetics - shouldn't we consider the"

1. svperrone, September 22, 2011

   I have a few thoughts on this question, but I think it begs more specifics. What particular "genetics" are you referring to, and in what way to produce a more environmentally sustainable production system? It seems to me that the most obvious case is the use of pesticides and herbicides. That is, if we can engineer plants to produce their own pesticides and herbicides, we eliminate the need for spraying and therefore avoid waste runoff and water pollution.
   
   My thoughts on this are that it is the wrong solution to the wrong problem. There are intense studies being performed in the fields of biodynamic, permaculture, and biointensive processes which demonstrate that the answer to avoiding chemical sprays is all in foresight and planning. It is extremely more efficient for farmers to grow crops that are native and therefore have evolved to withstand a region's climate, daylight, and soil conditions. In addition, crop rotation and cover cropping prevents diseases from popping up in the same fields year after year, while refueling the soil for successive production seasons. Avoiding large monocultures also more accurately mimics nature, and in a natural environment, plant health and disease tends to balance itself out. There are also other ways to prevent crop disease and infestation: certain plants have inborn mechanisms to deter pests, such as garlic. Planting certain crops in close proximity to others can do wonders in promoting each others' health. Take, for example, the three sisters crops: corn, climbing beans, and squash. They utilize different nutrients, grow roots to different depths, and exude pheromones that help strengthen each other.
   
   The argument may then arise that large monocrops are necessary to meet the demand for certain products. While this is true, I think it would build a stronger economy to divide these monocrops into smaller portions and employ more farmers rather than allowing large agribusiness to continue to collect subsidies. The world already produces more than enough food to feed the entire planet; it is not more food that we need as a society. Rather, I am of the opinion that our food production system does indeed need an overhaul and shift to the hands of small(er) businesses that can more easily monitor these particulars.
   
   I am not a farmer (though I have worked on farms for four years) and I am not an expert, but through personal interest and self-education I have drawn these conclusions. I hope I have somewhat accurately addressed your question -- and would love to hear your thoughts (or others').

2. RoboticEyebrow, September 23, 2011

   the problem with using genetics is that once a strain of a plant is isolated, that strain can be copyrighted and anyone who is found with that strain on their land can be sued, even if it had only blown over from another farm