Dr. A. M. “Tony” Shelton, a professor of entomology at Cornell University and a visiting scientist at Lincoln University, recently wrote an opinion piece that the debate on biotech crops is misleading New Zealand’s public.  Shelton, who has worked with organic, conventional and biotech farmers for more than 30 years says he doesn’t want to bash organic agriculture because some practices do benefit the environmental and should be encouraged, but the public should be aware of some key facts about biotech.

Shelton cites the claim that organic agriculture farming practices are safer than those used by farmers of biotech crops.  The benefits of biotech crops have been clear to agricultural scientists and many working within agricultural sectors, but may be less clear to the public, he says.  Over the last 10 years the use of biotech crops has resulted in the reduction of 224 million kilograms of active pesticide ingredients being sprayed.

Organic standards require farmers to apply only pesticides that are "natural" and not synthetic, but being "natural" does not ensure safety.  As an example, sulphur, a major fungicide used in organic agriculture, is toxic to a broad range of organisms and is a longer-term soil and environmental contaminant than most of its synthetic counterparts.

Another claim, according to Shelton is that the use of Bt crops will lead to the development of insects resistant to Bt, eliminating one of the tools organic growers have to control caterpillar pests. After 11 years, there has yet to be a case of insects developing resistance to Bt plants in the field. When Bt plants were developed, scientists knew about the potential for resistance and developed strategies that have proven effective in preventing resistance to Bt plants.

Shelton says that many conventional farmers now employ some organic practices to add to soil health on their farms.  He also says that many organic farmers he knows have expressed interest in using some biotech plants to help control pests in a more environmentally sustainable fashion, but the organic lobby will not allow it for philosophical, not scientific, reasons.

The goal of agriculture should be to create the safest food production system possible, depending on the situation, says Shelton.  Our goal as a society should be to use the best practices from each method and integrate them into systems that produce safer food in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner. That will provide the best benefits for the public, according to Shelton.

“Opinion; Perspective: GE Debate Misleading,” Tony Shelton, The Press (Christchurch, New Zealand)

Monsanto's effort to buy Delta and Pine Land Co. (D&PL) is starting to look like déjà vu all over again.  Only this time things are a bit different.  Robb Fraley, executive vice president and chief technology officer at Monsanto, talks about the earlier, unsuccessful attempt to buy D&PL as if it were a mere bump in the road, saying "As you know, we had attempted an acquisition of D&PL several years ago that didn't quite work out.”

According to Fraley, "things have changed to enable us to do the acquisition of D&PL, we feel very strongly about it because we believe that cotton is one of our core strategic crops, and, as a company, we want to be both a player and a partner in cotton."

“Case Made for More Cotton Biotech Investment,” Delta Farm Press

A New Venture for Modified Crops, Carter Dougherty, The International Herald Tribune

German chemical giant BASF and American biotechnology company Monsanto recently announced a $1.5 billion technology collaboration that will focus on the discovery and development of new trait technologies for higher-yielding varieties of seed for corn, canola, cotton and soybeans. 

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Farmer Sees Strong Grower Support for End to GM Crops Ban, ABC Premium News (Australia)

An Australian farmer believes most of the western Victoria region's grain growers are supportive of a push to end the Victorian Government’ s moratorium on genetically modified crops.  The Government says farmers will have input in a review of the ban that’s set to end in February 2008.