Corn, genetically modified crops better than traditional varieties, farm experts say
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Scientists have confirmed the advantages of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn and genetically modified (GM) crops over traditional strains in a seminar held at the Linden Suites in Ortigas Center as part of the Pan-Asia Farmers Exchange 2009 from August 4 to 6.
Dr. Violeta Villegas, an expert in plant pathology, said Bt corn has been genetically modified to resist the Asiatic corn borer, a pest that has ravaged corn plantations in the past.
Apart from the improved quality of harvest, she added that Bt corn reduces the use of pesticides, which also slashes the production cost of farmers.
“One farmer lost his cow because it fed on corn newly treated with pesticide,” she said.
Villegas said that assessments made by agencies and experts in the United States, Canada, Japan, Europe, South America and Asia have shown that Bt corn is “as safe as conventional corn for humans, animals and the environment.” Read More
We continue to see more and more scientists and food policy experts talk about the need to utilize this technology in order to meet food demand. Doubling our food production isn’t going to happen by accident and it certainly won’t happen by using 19th century production techniques. So far no one has come forward and volunteered to stop eating, so that means we have to grow more food.
1 comment:
Seriously, you trust these farm experts? Explain to me why so many farmers in India are committing suicide daily when they are getting so much help from these "farm experts", please. Something is not adding up here, when there is such need for food why are farmers continually being put out of business? Farming's good honest work, why does it not earn a decent living? Why is Joel Salatin making a decent income and Greg Judy sounds like he is also doing well, when they are going back to tried and true methods rather than relying on "farm experts"?
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