by Jerry Jackson
There is an absolute miracle that is currently in progress and chances are you have heard little about it: the amazing progress in the development of genetically modified organisms (GMO) and commonly referred to as biotech crops. Through a series of studies and experimentation the agricultural giant, Monsanto, is making beneficial strides in developing crop seeds that are vastly improved from only a few years ago.
Monsanto seeds contain genes that kill bugs and tolerate weed killing pesticides. More than half of the crops grown in the U.S. including all the soybeans and 70 percent of the corn are genetically modified. Just five years ago China, India and Brazil planted virtually no genetically engineered crops. Now, as explained in a recent article in Business Week, these countries last year planted more than 20 million acres of biotech crops.
This development is only part of the story. The other part is the continuing improvement of seeds that are mostly drought resistant and provide for dramatic increase in yields. Every year parts of the corn belt and the belt of agriculture lands that produce most of the country’s grains, soybeans and cotton don’t receive enough rain at the proper time. Even in years where rainfall is abundant, timing is extremely critical.
Consider this - in 1970 the average corn harvest yielded 70 bushels an acre. In 2006 the average yield was 150 bushels per acre and by 2030 the prediction is the yields will be close to 300 bushels per acre.
This information, both the dramatic increase in yields and genetically modified seeds that help to control crop pests and weeds, should be the best news yet for the environmentalist. This surge in increased yields means that fewer acres can be used to produce crops, rain forests will not be destroyed to provide for increased acreage and the gigantic tractors will put fewer emissions in the air as less cultivation and fewer trips will be made in the rows of corn, cotton and soybeans to spray for insects and weeds.
You might assume that Greenpeace and other environmental radicals would jump on the GMO bandwagon with enthusiasm, but you would be emphatically wrong. Certain environmentalists are still leading the charge that somehow these GMO foods are dangerous and will lead to who knows what if ingested.
There is absolutely no proof scientific or otherwise that GMO foods are damaging in any way, but that does not prevent the wackos from trying to put a voodoo curse on GMO’s. Despite the overwhelming benefits to world hunger and conservation of lands, the anti - GMO wolves continue to howl.
Are they not aware that the one modified gene that helps crops be drought resistant saves billions and billions of gallons of water each year?
Reacting to the protests of Greenpeace and others, Kroger has stopped selling milk with bovine growth hormones that increase production. Last summer activists in France trampled fields of biotech crops, and hostility toward GMO foods continues to be widespread in Africa, and wouldn’t you know, in Western Europe. It seems many patrons of these countries want little to do with religion as we know it, but have developed their own idol worship in trying to prevent mankind from making any changes to improve products from Mother Earth.
With this radical reaction in mind, Monsanto has developed a policy that most GMO crops are not directly consumed by humans, but are being ingested through processed foods. If you have been to a grocery store recently, chances are you have purchased food stuffs with GMO’s. Examples are tortilla chips, salad dressing, margarine, canola oil, squash and papayas.
As the debate quiets down, demand for genetically modified corps has exploded. The farmer spends up to 36 dollars more per acre on GMO corn seed but saves twice that much on a reduction in the use of pesticides and herbicides. With all these improvements with biotech seeds, it flies in the face of the crowd that wants to get back to nature as our grandparents and great grandparents did. These progressive developments are anti-organic and that seems to be the real reason the greenies are fighting true progress.
Some of you skeptics are probably saying none of this can be good because the evil gigantic corporation Monsanto is leading the charge and getting filthy rich. You would be exactly right: the company had a 44 percent increase in income last year and in the past few years the price of the stock has risen from 8 dollars per share to over 120 dollars in late December (2007). By recognizing this fact you should be receiving an important lesson in capitalism. If you take the risks like Monsanto has and produce a product that benefits millions, you will be very profitable until the competition comes along and improves upon your efforts.
If you are a true environmentalist, you will cheer and support Monsanto’s leadership in dramatically increasing yields, reducing the need for pesticides and herbicides and greatly helping both farmers and consumers. Monsanto and other similar companies are the real environmentalists. Rather than wring their hands and predict world wide catastrophes, these companies through capitalism, are giving us man-made miracles.
If you are not a believer, continue to float balloons, turn off the water while brushing teeth, hug the trees, carry your protest signs, and continue to scare the children about Monsanto and their evil ways. The left leaning greenies want you to stay with the myth that if a company or an individual is making money, it must be wrong.
