Genetic Engineering in Agriculture

While I was reading some news today, I came across an article that is very pertinent to our discussion on natural foods, here. The article coincides nicely with the book In Defense of Food, reviewing the current situation of some genetically modified rice. The author takes the time to point out that not only have genetically modified foods been around for some time, the public opposition is quite high globally, and argues that GM foods have not produced what they were supposed to.

Personally, I am very interested in the idea of bioengineering, and I take the opportunity to look at these kinds of articles critically. I've found that most of the hype and debate over GM foods is from an either an ethical or a health perspective. The ethical side is undoubtedly a tough issue, and opinions vary widely. The health side, however, can be more easily argued with factual evidence. But, once again, we run into the problem that the data just isn't there. Similarly to the whole concept of nutritional science, we really can't make judgement based off of what science is currently available. As soon as something is thought to be a strong point, another data set is shown to conflict the premise. I frequently hear people talking about the danger of GM anything, but it's hard to back up either side without firm science.

Another point is made in the article presenting the security/health research that is required for these companies to be able to market their products. The author admits there is no data to show that the products are toxic or bad for your health, but then again, it's the companies that are providing the data - potentially a conflict of interest.

My opinion on this topic, and many related topics, is that it's a personal choice. A consumer should educate themselves not on just journalism, but also the hard science behind the products. They should take the initiative, read the scholarly articles, and deduct their own opinions. Only then are you mitigating the bias enough to get a sure, thorough sense of what you believe and how you will personally react.

Lastly, the point of third world countries being among the most opposed when they potentially have the most to gain is another angle on an already complex issue. The momentum from the promise of these bioengineering companies to provide food for the world (and consequently, end world hunger) can't be ignored. The author makes a keen point that we haven't seen those results yet, and that relying on these products would produce a financial enslavement to the companies that produce them - once again, the issue of ethics arises. So what is the real direction here? Are GM foods dangerous, or are they the next step in a world liberated from starvation?