[UIUCstudent01]

I still have some hope for BioTech to 'feed' the nation - and do other stuff, I am aware that Monsanto and the ilk are pretty much faceless, almost careless, corporations in repect to making a profit with very smart people at the helm - that is, they make sure the government supports them and they make sure things like labeling do not happen.

When I heard of Peak Oil a year or so ago and looked into it: I thought, wow, maybe Monsanto's goal might be worthy. Yay for that. But I looked further into biology and heard stories (totally hidden from the MSM) about failures, mistakes, and problems.

What's bringing this topic back into my mind is this DemocracyNow Transcript
There's alot of danger in messing with genes. They have taken great strides in preventing PR disasters from leaking out to the general public.

I don't hear much about Biotech in terms of Peak Oil. So, I want to get poll about this. How do you think BioTechs role will play out?

[Ludi]

The sole purpose of genetically modified plants is to earn profits for the corporations selling them.

A waste of time and money - there's no need to bioengineer special crops, because there are already crops adapted to most conditions.

[Ebyss]

I agree with Ludi. I might even be more vehement in my objections to GM food. It's one sure fire way to shoot yourself in the foot. GM foods/crops will always come back to bite you in the ass like a rabid dog.

There's two very important parts of GM foods that spell disaster :

(1) Some companies focus on making the plants infertile. This means the farmer must come back year after year (indeed, there are contracts to ensure they do) to buy the seeds from them at whatever price they want to charge. This is a dangerous situation to be in for any farmer.

(2) Other companies don't make their seeds infertile, so you have cross contamination to non GM crops, which can be disastrous. The seeds can and do travel up to 24 miles away (and probably further) and interbreed with crops, causing irreperable damage.

It's a no-win situation. Ask this guy.

[RonMN]

I read a report on canada doing some Biotech. on "terminator seeds"...these seeds would allow other things to grow...but you could no longer save seed...it would be sterile (corn, oak trees, you name it)...so now (after a year or 2) you would have to buy your Bio-seed from canada if you expected anything to grow...

Google "terminator seed"...i dare ya!

So now...what do YOU think of biotech???