Why Africa needs GMO crops

[rietrot]

Because they don't, they've been around 20 years there is more research

Lol do you even realise how ignorant this is. 20 years is nothing and there's no controlled studies of the long term effects of GMOs.

 

[jeevadotnet]

Anti-GMO people are on the same level as anti-vaxxers. Dumb AF.

You do know the vegetables and other plants you're currently eating has been genetically modified for hundreds and thousands of years now... GM just does not happen in a lab alone.

 

[access]

well apparently genetic modification happens in nature too, which means we have been eating it for a long long time..

i think the words genetic and modify is what spooks people.

 

[rietrot]

Anti-GMO people are on the same level as anti-vaxxers. Dumb AF.

You do know the vegetables and other plants you're currently eating has been genetically modified for hundreds and thousands of years now... GM just does not happen in a lab alone.

There's a bit of a difference there. Selective breeding isn't quite the same thing.

 

[access]

Selective breeding isn't quite the same thing.

selective breeding? what?

rather go read up how it has been happening in nature, like from parasites

 

[Polymathic]

There's a bit of a difference there. Selective breeding isn't quite the same thing.

Yup, there's some randomness with selective breeding

 

[Lupus]

well apparently genetic modification happens in nature too, which means we have been eating it for a long long time..

i think the words genetic and modify is what spooks people.

Nah what spooks them is they think the GMO Corn might have the DNA of a frog in it or something, like it's Jurassic Park or something.

 

[rietrot]

Nah what spooks them is they think the GMO Corn might have the DNA of a frog in it or something, like it's Jurassic Park or something.

Nobody think that

 

[yebocan]

So what you're saying is that the companies are using Africa as a testing ground? WTF!!!! We've had GMO Maize for over 20 years, in fact it's almost 30 years now in South Africa if cancer was caused by it you'd see a large swing towards the poorer communities dying of it, yet instead you actually see one demographic still being overly high in the cancer rates in SA (I'm talking demographics here).

Correct, that is exactly what I am saying.

 

[CeeBee]

i work for an international seed company, that also has a 'biotech' division. i'm in IT so not too much involved in the actual bio side of it, other than assist with the hardware/software. i must say the DNA and genetics side is quite impressive and interesting. but from my understanding this is quite a big topic, from genetic modification, to genetic enhancement, to just plain old selective breeding. all of these have been going on for many years as we know, and most of us consume some form of modified crops already.
but i think that actual gene mixing of plants and insects is still being frowned apon, at least in our company not going that route.
but i suppose that enhancement of crops to improve nutrition, better disease resistance, higher yields are here to stay to help with food production.

as for forcing 'seedless' varieties onto farmers, in order to force them to buy new seeds every season... there are still many OP varieties available, but most big/serious farmers stick to hybrid seeds and buy new seed every season, as its been proven to have better crops and yields than planting seeds coming from the previous crop, so while you may be saving money to use seed from the last crop, the yield and resultant earnings will not be the same.

 

[Lupus]

Nobody think that

Actually that's what a lot think,
https://gmoanswers.com/ask/there-an...nswer-im-vegetarian-and-when-i-heard-i-nearly

 

[Aquila ka Hecate]

In a way, I've been in GMO my whole life, as my father was a research scientist for what is now Syngentia.

I think the major problem with these crops (apart of course that mega-mon-crop farming is extremely bad for the biosphere) is the associated pesticide/herbicide industry which is making a mockery of the natural insect population.

 

[Unhappy1]

Exactly the same thing my pharmacist is saying. The amount of people, irrespective of age, that he is seeing... that are fighting cancer is alarming.



https://www.cipla.co.za/cipla-news/our-next-big-mission-fighting-cancer-in-africa/

Firstly you realise with an increase in overall population, there will be an increase in things like cancer. Secondly just because there is an increase in cancer it doesn't mean you get to assume its gmos, for instance we know pollution can cause cancer so it becomes easier to attribute rises in pollution with rises in cancer.

 

[yebocan]

Firstly you realise with an increase in overall population, there will be an increase in things like cancer. Secondly just because there is an increase in cancer it doesn't mean you get to assume its gmos, for instance we know pollution can cause cancer so it becomes easier to attribute rises in pollution with rises in cancer.

until we have conclusive evidence to disregard GMO as a factor in the rise of cancer, I am keeping my tinfoil hat on and GMO out of my diet, as best that I can.

 

[Temujin]

Nah what spooks them is they think the GMO Corn might have the DNA of a frog in it or something, like it's Jurassic Park or something.

Children of the corn sequel incoming

 

[Aquila ka Hecate]

Children of the corn sequel incoming

Modern humans have been Children of the Corn for ages.

 

[Unhappy1]

until we have conclusive evidence to disregard GMO as a factor in the rise of cancer, I am keeping my tinfoil hat on and GMO out of my diet, as best that I can.

No it should work the other way around, btw we do have very good evidence that gmos are generally safe to consume. However you are free to chose whatever you want to eat, i just wouldnt try and pretend like you are having some kind of golden pill.

 

[LazyLion]

If you reject the science behind GMO's then I put you into the same category and anti-vaxxers and flat Earthers.

 

[Petec]

GMO seeds self destruct, and are Roundup resistant with the crops showing high levels of glyphosate.
It’s a ridiculous mess, with almost all of South Africa’s main crops being GMO.

Then you get the good guys like Eureka Mills threatened to remove their Non-GMO labeling off their flour packs, or PicknPay won’t stock their products. Ridiculous!

 

[Unhappy1]

If you reject the science behind GMO's then I put you into the same category and anti-vaxxers and flat Earthers.

Thats not entirely fair, there is some discussion that can be continuously had around the safety of food in general which includes gmos. The discussion about the earths shape is a non starter.