Zeigler states: "We have been growing [genetically modified crops] for well over a decade now in North America on vast acreages, and no harm has been done to anything or anybody." This declaration is premature, and that attitude is what makes GM inherently dangerous. Any good scientist knows that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Furthermore, large scale studies designed to detect subtle toxicological effects have not been carried out. There is a massive problem with honey bee Colony Collapse Disorder, and the cause remains undetermined. Convergence of crops and loss of biodiversity is a significant hazard. GM proponents guaranteed a lack of gene escape - a phenomenon which occurred readily and broadly upon implementation of GM crops. Socially responsible scientists should advocate a middle of the road approach - proceed with innovations, but be ACTIVELY vigilant to determine adverse effects.
‘Shortages Are on the Horizon’
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You are in Norway to inaugurate the so-called "doomsday seed vault." Tell us about it.
Basically, the vault is an assembly of all the gene banks in the works, sort of as a repository of last resort. Today was the opening. We put about 268,000 different strains of crops and plants inside, 70,000 of which were rice from our gene bank at the institute. We made 25 percent of the first deposits.
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