Until Tuesday, all genetically-engineered plants were not allowed to be grown in any part of the European Union. This changed yesterday as officials gave the okay for a new breed of potato -- called the amflora potato -- to plant roots in EU soil. This is a very controversial topic, as many people believe that the dangers associated with engineered plants and animals are too unpredictable. Some of these concerns can be read about here.
One of the most compelling arguments for keeping genetically-engineered plants from taking root is that no one really knows what will happen when these new plants are introduced. Too many times, scientists have made mistakes with species introduction. Many times when a stronger plant enters an area, it chokes out the other native plants that have been growing there. Also, when, for example, new genetically-engineered rice was introduced, people became too dependent on it and many of the other rice varieties became virtually extinct. Not only does this harm diversification, if a disease were to come and wipe out this certain type of rice, we would have a world famine on our hands. Many EU citizens are afraid something similar may happen to the potato in Europe now that farmers are allowed to grow this new potato.
The other very controversial thing about officials giving the okay for the amflora potato has nothing to do with the environmental repercussions that may occur. Many EU citizens are upset that lobbyists, not voters, were the ones who were able to push this topic through the government and get it passed. This is a political issue that I am not going to get into right now, but with all of the harms -- both political and environmental -- it makes you wonder: Is the amflora potato doing more bad than good?
No comments:
Post a Comment