GMO's and Organics

Ever since monks started flirting with peas we have consciously modified the genes of our food. The issue may be with what has our food been 'mixed' and to what degree will there be new unintended consequences.

Are you kidding me? I don't believe it is ever OK to modify a food. Plants grow the way they do for a reason. Do we honestly believe that we know what is better for the earth than Mother Nature?
It's all about money and Mother Nature doesn't care about the BBD (the bigger better deal)!!

Danger danger.

Please, read the book The Omnivore's Dilemma, a Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan. And research Polyface Farm at www.polyfacefarms.com
These are the values and "buy local" mentality we should have regarding our food.

I think, "Sounds good in theory, but I don't trust American corporations or the FDA to keep it safe."

I support the "original" concept of Organic Foods. I've been a supporter of "Organic Foods" for 25yrs. About 75% of my grocery budget is spent on Organic Foods. It does cost me more however I view it as a voting with my dollars. I am opposed to having GMO Foods covered under the Organic Labeling. I firmly believe that GMO would need to be clearly labeled so I could have my "Right" to choose. There would need to be much education to sway my aversion to GMO... I'm not convinced and am suspious of "Organic Foodees" that are convinced GMO is safe. I look forward to your show tomorrow.

I'm concerned about who exactly you are having as a supposedly organic farmer who is now 'pro-GMO' foods. I hope you'll be very careful to identify them and who they may represent. I also hope you'll have on an organic spokesperson who is opposed to GMO foods for balance.

I'm not opposed to modifying foods, that's what breeding of various plants does. My problem is the addition of genes of other organisms into the genes of plants. The 'organic' label has already been watered down (ie Horizon labels their dairy products organic but those poor cows never see the outside of a barn) and if anything, we need to strengthen those requirements. Thank you.

unintended consequences.

Travis Roy is right, people needed to have a hand in the modifying of corn. But its to what extent you take it. Farmers can no longer use seeds from the previous crop to plant their next harvest because the government wont allow it. Those same farmers can not even feed a kernel of that corn to their families because it is so modified it cannot be used until it is processed.

"I just want to opt-out. That's all the Native Americans wanted. Most of our mentalities can't bare an "opt-out" option. We will have to refight the Battle of Little Big Horn to preserve the right to opt-out, or our grandchildren will have no choice but to eat amalgamated, irradiated, genetically prostituted, barcoded, foods from centralized processing conglomerate." - Paraphrased from that book Dan was talking about. An amazing read I might add.

Its up to us to make a change for ourselves and for future generations. The government, FDA, USDA, etc., only know what is best for themselves.

Once strange genes are in a plant they can migrate into other plants or insects. Check out the farmer in Canada who developed his own strain of rape seed only to have it contaminated with Round-up Ready seeds. Look at the threat to Monarch butterflies from milk weed that grows near GMO corn.

I would like to see all produce identified as GMO and to say if it has very strange genes from fish or tree nuts. Whatever theoretical benefit they contribute will be a disater for someone.

Scripture says that in the Peaceable Kingdom the lion will eat hay like the ox. I am not so sure about that, but when farmers fed cow parts to cows, so the ox ate meat like the lion, we got Mad Cow Disease, and all Hell broke loose.

GMO = Pandora's Box. I only see Hope in the market baskets of people who will Eat Local, Eat Organic, and Eat Seasonally.

When I think about genetically modified foods, I think about genetic drift. It's my understanding that right now you cannot find a canola plant in Canada that does not contain genes patented by Monsanto. It doesn't matter how or why they got there; by strict legal interpretation, Monsanto now owns every canola plant in Canada.

I am an Organic farmer and also an Organic Inspector. GMO varieties offer no benefits for an Organic crop or livestock system. They work against the organic farmer leading to unhealthy soils, resistant pests and weeds, and represent the potential collapse of our entire food system here on the planet. Now, if “Big Pharma” becomes too big to fail and hits an economic, political, or technological iceberg, we have each and every Organic farm in the world as our specie’s safety-net; a network of lifeboats with multiple varieties of uncontaminated seed not subject to such titanic gambles. It is unfortunate that the reporters for our own public media have dim-wittedly played into the hands of a bogus campaign by so-called “organic foodies” when in reality it is just “Big Pharma” attempting to not only re-capture losing market share, but to systematically contaminate our seed stocks with genetic devises that are designed to monopolize our most basic human needs as a species
I get paid to travel around and inspect many Organic Growers, and many of my friends are also Organic farmers. I have never heard ANY of them even consider wanting GMO seed. In fact, we are all afraid of GMO seeds because we, of all people, know how dangerous they truly are. Prohibiting GMO seed is one of the most important aspects of contemporary Organic agriculture. Don’t forget, the same company that makes the dangerous chemical that is linked to one of our most common childhood illnesses is also that same company that makes the drug that treats it. By the way, it is THAT SAME COMPANY that produces the GMO seed that is designed to be use with used with the original dangerous chemical !

zombie foods! if we're eating genetically modified food, what's the next step? foodstuffs that are replicated, like on star trek? Synthehol? science fiction aside, it seems there could potentially be some great pluses to this. i only worry about the potential danger to the environment (chemicals used, waste management) and to bodies for the same reasons.

I have done some research on this GMO you speak of, The disadvantages are Digestinal problems in the future for honey Bees what will it do to us consumming it? No it should not be organic foors. There are chemicals in GMO.

Your guest does not understand Organic food production. Healthy soil and proper land managment will solve fertility, drought, and production problems.

RE: The Green Monster - GMOs are incompatible with organics, see http://cli.gs/r3WRmv (and why we don't need them http://cli.gs/pdLPSH