Gardeners can grow a genetically modified purple tomato made with snapdragon DNA
npr.org
npr.org
On the other hand probably the gen is harmless. I assume that everybody ate it yet for decades on blue tomatoes without growing a second head. The snapdragon was moved to the family Plantaginaceae, that as a whole is not great-not terrible in terms of chemistry defenses, but is still a relative of the foxglove that definitely is very dangerous.
Wild black tomatoes with black flesh are poisonous normally, so this move is a little like selecting a white carrot and losing the advantage that "if is orange, is not hemlock".
Unfortunately there are special interest groups who have twisted public opinion.
Over 1 million kids die every year due to Vitamin A deficiency. Some of these groups are trying to ban Golden Rice, GMO rice infused with viatamin A (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/may/25/...).
> The push for nutrient-dense GMOs is a recent trend, says Kathleen Hefferon, a microbiologist at Cornell University. The first wave of GMOs were for staple crops that were easier to grow.
> "There was a real push of trying to achieve food security for a lot of populaces in developing countries and usually that involved making these staple crops that grew better, such as rice and corn and wheat and things like this," she explained.
> A transgenic papaya was introduced to combat a virus that was destroying the crops in Hawaii. It's largely credited with saving the industry on the islands. There were also crops to increase nutritional value for populations in developing countries. Golden rice was developed in the late 1990s to have more beta-carotene to combat Vitamin A deficiencies. Because of practical and regulatory issues, the crop never took off.
> The trend now is for biofortified foods, like the Purple Tomato.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto_Canada_Inc_v_Schmeise...
That bit in India also sounds horrible.
That's a lot of 'seems' that ignores that last hundred years or so modern farming and the case law around seed patents that has existed since the 30s.
> As children, before we're taught economics, we learn farmers plant seeds to grow corn to feed us. Suing the farmer for planting seeds hurts this very basic role we learned as kids.
Generally anytime someone's argument is based around an appeal to emotions, you can be they aren't dealing with reality and logical thinking. Doubly so when you're talking about planting corn when discussing a case about canola.
In practice it became impossible to keep BT corn out of the food supply. With corn as a staple crop and the international trade in corn everyone on the planet became a test case.
There was controversy on the impact of corn pollen on non-target species, including monarchs and lady-birds/lady bugs and bees. Follow-up studies didn’t show significant impact in quantities likely to be encountered in the field.
All GMs have risk of pollen drift and the risk of gene spread. Farmers growing non-BT corn for export may have their crops rejected in some markets if contaminated. Corn cross pollinates with a genetic ancestor of corn in South America which is considered a weed because it can cause domestic corn kernels to not develop properly. There is some risk of gene transfer and creating a “super” weed.
https://ejbpc.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41938-018-0...
I suppose in theory we can put every nutrient needed known to man in a grain of rice one day.
But just because you could, does it mean you should? I suppose this opens up a much more broader discussion of morals, ethics and potentially alogical topics of conversation.
...And remember kids "It's easier to meet the people where they are!"
The Lucky Iron Fish is a good story in this area.
I think you're the one proposing to supply "Vitamin A enriched foods (carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale...?)", which they may not know how to grow, transport, store, or cook.
Iodine enrichment of salt achieved much the same in so many countries.
As if no one has ever thought of this and it's just that simple.
Yes.
And oily fish, liver, cheese, and butter.
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=c050f213-54bd...
Will my Purple Tomato fruit make seeds? If I save the seeds, will they be viable and will the plants be the same Purple Tomato plants?
Yes, this variety will produce fruit with seeds. The seeds will be viable and will produce Purple Tomato plants. Growers can save the seeds and enjoy the plants and fruits in your home garden and with your local community. The same Terms and Conditions apply to future generations.
https://www.norfolkhealthyproduce.com/faqs
Personally, I've got six plants started that are all doing well. If they taste good and are as beautiful as the pictures, I plan to save seeds.
Fruit that comes with an EULA? WTF.
Do humans who eat more blueberries than tomatoes live longer?
Second thought: given all the ways we have to extend mice lifespans by 30% I'm surprised we don't have effectively immortal mice yet.
They’re a seed company that’s explicitly anti-GMO, and came out with a nearly identical tomato to Norfolks. At first they doubled down and said they’d tested for gene markers and were certain their variety was non-GMO, but eventually they pulled it from the catalogue after being contacted by Norfolk.
It comes from the same anti-science crowd that pushes things like crystals, sound healing, raiki, and astrology.
Yes, I live in the Boulder, CO area, how did you guess?
FTA:
> Of course, some people have raised health concerns around eating GMOs, but studies since these foods were introduced three decades ago do not show any harm. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration concludes there is not a health risk to eating GM foods currently on the market.
> what is actually bad about improving food?
With that said, I'd suggest you reconsider your opposite premise that GMOs invariably improve food.
I agree your mentioned echo chambers are unhelpful, just try to avoid feeding into it with equally uninformed opinions.
Please, inform my opinion. I am always open to new data, as we all should be.
Has the planet itself not been doing this for quite a long time already? I think your question would be better framed as not “changing” but “accelerating” and I think that is indeed a valid question. I’m just not sure I agree it will end with non viable crops.