Part 1 of Bailey Reading: pg. 183-193

I just finished part one (pg 183-193) of the Bailey reading. Here's my basic summary:

The article talks about biotech crops which are taking "useful genes from any organism and insert them into other organism" thereby creating genetically modified plants (pg. 187).

The article addresses the concerns regarding biotech crops and gives two examples of international issues regarding the crops.
1. 1999 cyclone in India--USAID tried to give genetically modified (GM) crops to India, which India refused despite its starving people because they feared the crops were unsafe, they were being used as the guinea pigs, and getting the rejected food from the North.
2. 2002 famine in Zambia--US tried to give GM crop aid, but again due to antibiotech activists telling Africans about the dangers of the crops, the leaders refused the aid. Also African leaders were afraid of getting caught between the US and the EU, since the EU bans GM crops.

In 2004 in the US: 45% of corn, 85% of soybean, and 76% of cotton is GM. About 1/3 of global biotech crop is in the developing world. Biotech crops help increase food production and income.

Biotech food is safe, there have been no known cases of any harm being cased by GM food. Most Americans have been eating GM food since 1995, and 70% of food in grocery stores is GM. The EU admits that GM food is safe, even though they insist on a ban.

Currently biotech crops main improvements are that they are pest and herbicide resistant. Next step would be drought resistant, and able to survive in harsh soils.