from the Bt-corn-strikes-again dept.
VAB writes "MSN is running a story about GE planting regulation compliance by farmers. Basically, a survey of 501 farmers revealed that about 29% (or close to a third) of them failed to follow FDA regulations related to their planting of Monsanto's genetically engineered Bt corn. …He notes the earlier problems with Bt corn and asks "Are all of these GE technology stewardship failures a bad sign for the future impact of MNT?"Read more for the rest of his comment. FDA regulations about planting locations and percentages of crops that are allowed to be GE'd are in place to protect the ecosystem from the genetic evolutionary pressures of the crops (i.e., bugs becoming resistant to the pesticides engineered into the crops).
We can be sure that the scientists who develop MNT, and MNT related to genetic engineering applications, will understand and respect the safety limitation of the technologies they create. But, does the farmers' difficulty complying with the FDA's regulations show that the average American may not be capable of such stewardship?
I'm sure many of you remember Bt corn, from the accidental introduction of it into the US food supply before it had gained approval as being "safe for human consumption" from the FDA. Product recalls followed as an environmental watchdog group found evidence of Bt corn in food such as Taco Bell taco shells.
Are all of these GE technology stewardship failures a bad sign for the future impact of MNT?"
