Thursday 6 October 2016

GMOs Are a Necessity—for Farmers and the Environment - WSJ

What about all those folks who say that "the science is settled" and must be accepted in the case of global warming, but who simply refuse to accept the science in the case of Genetically  Modified Organisms?
This article in the Wall Street Journal summarizes the finding of the US National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine:
These conclusions could not have surprised anyone who follows the issue. They're consistent with the findings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Medical Association, the World Health Organization and other highly respected groups. Thousands of independent researchers have consistently found that GMOs benefit not only farmers and the public, but also biodiversity, soil quality, water quality, carbon sequestration—in short, the environment.
Still, I know people who close their ears and shut their eyes when they are confronted by the science. At least then they should empathize with the visceral views of "climate deniers". They're coming from the same place.
For the record and for myself, I'm convinced by the science of global climate change and the need to address it. That's why I'm in favour of nuclear, as well as all the renewables stuff.
And I'm equally convinced by the science of GMOs. They're part of the solution to global problems.