COM 0882.006 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

With respect to environmental safety, largely the same conclusion can be drawn. There is a concern about preserving genetic purity of different varieties. All growers are concerned about this issue whether or not they grow GE crops. It is true that pollen can be blown large distances, but it is simply not true that genetic contamination is occurring rampantly. And in papaya, our data suggests that genetic contamination or gene flow if it occurs is very small. It is not rampant, and in practice, it is not a problem. In most, if not all cases of GE crops, relatively simple measures can be taken to assure variety purity and to assure that problems do not occur. The final point I'd like to make concerns the importance of not restricting research on GE taro or coffee or any other crop for that matter. It would be a grave mistake to do so. At this time, there is no data to support the notion that problems exist with the use of GE. This does not mean that problems won't be identified in the future. Everyone benefits when we identify problems as early as possible. An atmosphere of free and open inquiry is thus essential to everyone. Only when problems are identified, can solutions be developed. We must also remember that farming, organic or conventional, really comes down to giving growers choices and options in dealing with all the different problems and challenges in getting a crop to market. There is no single approach to solving problems. The more irons in the fire, the more effective a grower is likely to be. In turn, successful farmers mean that consumers benefit. There would be few papayas available today and prices would be sky high, if RAINBOW and SUNUP papayas had not been developed. By curtailing the research climate, Resolutions 462 and 463 reduce growers' options, thus constraining the future for all of us. Those resolutions should not be supported. Thank you for the opportunity to share my views with you.