Question
Answer
Expert response from Kevin Folta
Professor and Chairman, Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida
Friday, 09/10/2015 11:38
This is like asking “Are pharmaceutical critics wrong?”
It is an open-ended question and an important one. It frames the problem. People are thinking of a huge range of technologies and products as one thing, which it is not.
The insulin used by diabetics is produced by a recombinant DNA, a “GMO” if we have to use that term. The critics are wrong. Some have said that this lifesaving medicine should not be used, yet it has been essential for treating a growing population of diabetics that require such assistance. In this case, the critics appear to be wrong, as there is no evidence to support their claims.
In other cases critics suggest that all products be well tested before deployment. Those critics are correct, and scientists agree that individual products must show safety and efficacy before they can be used. The companies know this as well, as a dangerous product or something that fails to perform is an extremely expensive mistake, if thought of strictly from a business perspective.
Other scientists always criticized the use of single-resistance mechanisms, noting that resistance would happen—myself included. I even discussed this today with someone in a potential tomato solution that is years from the market. Scientists like to be critical and point out problems before they happen.
So what I would recommend is making your question more specific. What are your individual concerns? Get those to me via this website and I’ll be happy to answer them.
How Do GMOs Benefit The Environment?
