The employees of Monsanto are drinking the cool-aid. Yesterday, I saw a former classmate of mine post the following. Most of my friends know I work for company that produces GMO products. With a growing world population and shrinking resources, I firmly believe that we need to use all the technology available to us, just as we have used technology to help us in medicine. To quote from a well written editorial by T.J. Menn in last Tuesdays Star Advertiser, By the time you finish this column, 15 children in the world will have died from malnutrition. Before you sleep tonight over 20,000 somewhere in the world will die from hunger. How many people have died from eating GMO products - ZERO. Right now there is a movement affecting Maui and Molokai (called to the Shaka Movement) to ban the growing of GMO products. Please know that we would not have a papaya industry in Hawaii if the science of GMO had not lead to the GMO ring-spot virus resistant Rainbow papaya. There are more than 600 scientific studies conducted world wide stating the safety of GMO foods. GMO crops undergo 10-13 years of extensive testing for safety by the USDA, FDA, and EPA. Also note: these foods have been pronounced safe by the World Health Organization, The American Medical Association, the U.S. Academy of Sciences, and our own local Hawaii College of Tropical Ag. Its really easy for folks to protest things they do not understand, without offering solutions to feed a growing world population. Its easy for us to make these calls when we have food in our refrigerators and water that freely flows from our faucets. If you are interested in helping to stop this ban, please write me back. You can send me a private message if you prefer. I will end with this thought/statistic - as your read this post, 15 children have died from hunger. I responded to her with facts and links to other Websites and a story of my cousins son being born a victim of Agent Orange because of his fathers exposure to it during the Viet Nam War. I pointed out that the FDA approved commercial production of GMOs based on studies conducted by the companies who created them and profit from their sale. This is her response to that: I am truly very sorry to hear about Dan and understand your anger. But, are you not mad at the EPA for approving DDT? I mean that was banned years ago and I dont see the protestors marching against that chemical. But Monsanto is not Agent Orange associated anymore. That people keep bringing this up baffles me. Agent Orange was banned years 43 ago!! Peoples ideas and values have changed over time. Monsanto is not in the business of making chemicals to hurt people. Monsanto makes chemicals to control weeds and pests. Monsanto grows vegetables and fruit in parts of the world where the land is arid and people starve. Monsanto is not evil. Monsanto is me and my co-workers. People who believe in what we do. I would not work in a company if I thought I was hurting someone or the land that I depend on to grow the crops at where I work. Diane, I advise you to also do your research and look at WHY farmers prefer to use GM products - because they work. None of us rely solely on our farms to pay our rent and bills. If you did, and you lost 60-80% of your crop (yes, your expected income is now reduced by that much) you would look for tools to help protect your crops. Really, how many of us in America have to rely on our farms to feed us. Our farmers are my heroes! And speaking of that - where are all the protesters against the pineapple industry and the tools (pesticides) they use? I advise you to read\Mythbusting 101 Organic Farming Conventional Agriculture Science Sushi, Scientific American Blog Network.mht . Organic farmers use pesticides too. The pesticides we use are SAFE according to the USDA, EPA, and FDA when used according to the label. The Hawaii University of Ag program has said that the large seed companies are the safest users of pesticides in that we are very, very careful in following the label and the law. We are not doing anything that is illegal – we are simply trying not to lose our crops to pests and weeds. Another good article on why our famers use GM seeds ismnfarmliving/.../okay-feed-family-gmos-2.html. Hawaii is unique. If the folks who are protesting in these island went to the farms on the mainland where corn is grown….I think those farmers would try to educate you. I have been to Iowa and talked to farmers who are stoked that they are getting higher yields and spraying less pesticides than they did in the past. How many of the marchers here in Hawaii have take the time to actually talk to a farmer who grows thousands of acres of one crop???? Real farmers –those who are trying to feed their families and America. Ask them what type of seeds they plant and why? As far as farmers being sued – that is an old story – kind of urban legend that won’t die because the farmer who made the claims gets so much attention and money – he won’t let the matter drop. Diane, his field was found to have over 95-98% GM corn! That does not happen from drift!!! That happens from having a few plants with GM seed. You harvest the corn, save the seeds, and re-plant…and continue doing so. And as far as my doing my research Diane, I believe I have. I have been employed as a research scientist for the past 20 years. The first 14 years were in the area of aquaculture disease, and the last 6 in the corn industry. I have had my studies published in peer review journals and I never paid to have my work published. I will end with asking you, “What solution do you and your associates have for feeding a growing world population.” I would be interested in hearing some solutions. It is my true belief that we do not have to be 100% pro or anti when it comes to farming tools. I would hope we could all work together instead of trying to shut each other down. I am looking for some information to share with her that will educate, not offend. I appreciate your assistance.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 22:39:19 +0000
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