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Re:We’re Scientists, Moms, And We Avoid Non-GMO Products by Bartweiss on Monday November 07, 2016 @02:47PM (#12894320)
I can't shake the feeling that the history of modern agriculture is just a history of staying one step ahead of disaster.

We used intensive farming until it ruined our soils. Then we used rotation farming with heavy irrigation until it collided with a drought. We used DDT until it killed the eagles and condors. We used nitrogen fertilizers until they triggered algae blooms and ruined our waterways. I see no particular reason to expect a different pattern; we keep putting things into widespread usage before their harms are known.

I'm not even sure I'm opposed to this; most of these crises have been mitigated and most of the changes have been reactive, to accommodate a population that grew regardless of agriculture. I'm just skeptical of claims that this time, rushing things into national use without long-term evaluation won't cause any harm.

Re:We’re Scientists, Moms, And We Avoid Non-GMO Products by Kalium on Monday November 07, 2016 @04:31PM (#12895349)
One could make a strong case that the entirety of human history is staying one step ahead of disaster. Political, economic, cultural, agricultural, and so on. One could very reasonably make a further case that it's generally those who embraced risk who did the best, long-term.
Re:We’re Scientists, Moms, And We Avoid Non-GMO Products by Thimothy on Monday November 07, 2016 @05:02PM (#12895624)
Well, the explanation for that looks like it's a job for survivorship bias, isn't it?. I mean, we could not know about the huge amount of people that have died by betting their livehood in the wrong risk. Only that the stakes are higher this time, we are not talking about a few tribes trying their hand with agriculture, but messing with the food chain in a way that could spread continent-wide easily.
Re:We’re Scientists, Moms, And We Avoid Non-GMO Products by Kalium on Monday November 07, 2016 @05:11PM (#12895692)
It's possible! We do know about a number of societies that perished because their conservatism got them out-competed.

That sort of competition hasn't gone away. The world of people capable of using CRISPR isn't going all agree to a cartel-type pact to never do certain things. There's too many people and the bar is too low.

Re:We’re Scientists, Moms, And We Avoid Non-GMO Products by civilian on Monday November 07, 2016 @06:55PM (#12896403)
Hmmm! You're making me want to move to India and set up a GMO shop.
Re:We’re Scientists, Moms, And We Avoid Non-GMO Products by Kalium on Tuesday November 08, 2016 @04:49PM (#12904261)
Go for it! The world needs more people willing and able to take those risks.
Re:We’re Scientists, Moms, And We Avoid Non-GMO Products by tunap on Monday November 07, 2016 @05:17PM (#12895740)
Very true for the notable successes, but let's not forget the large percentile of risk takers who ultimately fail in obscurity.
Re:We’re Scientists, Moms, And We Avoid Non-GMO Products by Kalium on Monday November 07, 2016 @05:31PM (#12895823)
I've not forgotten them. I remember them right alongside the even larger percentile of those who failed after deciding to stop taking risks.
Re:We’re Scientists, Moms, And We Avoid Non-GMO Products by tunap on Monday November 07, 2016 @07:49PM (#12896680)
Indeed.