However, on the whole, the safety and efficacy of vaccines and their life-saving nature has been shown in study after study and there is scientific consensus that the benefits outweigh the risks.
The same with GMO. Just like vaccines, there are risks and they will require regulation. However, study after study has shown that the benefits outweigh the risks, and there is scientific consensus on the issue. In addition, GMO opposition does actively harm people. An example is the opposition to Golden Rice which would significantly reduce Vitamin A deficiency worldwide.
>For biofortification alone GMO technology can deliver high folate rice (mothers’ dietary deficiency causes birth defects), high zinc and high iron rice (dietary deficiency impedes mental development). Similarly, GMO Golden Rice provides a source of vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency is an immune deficiency syndrome, so children die of common infections. It is also the main cause of irreversible childhood blindness. Golden Rice has been accepted as safe for consumption by the Governments of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and USA, and registrations have been applied for in Philippines and Bangladesh. Yet, significantly due to rejection of science by activists, Golden Rice is not yet available to farmers and their communities as an additional intervention for vitamin A deficiency. And neither high folate rice, nor high iron rice, nor high zinc rice, nor Golden Rice could be developed without the use of GMO-technology.
Based on the above, it is logical to group anti-GMO opposition in with anti-vaxxers as people that reject science and endanger the health of humans.
Neither have vaccines, in 1999 the rotavirus vaccine was withdrawn because of reports of intussusception.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5334a3.htm .
However, on the whole, the safety and efficacy of vaccines and their life-saving nature has been shown in study after study and there is scientific consensus that the benefits outweigh the risks.
The same with GMO. Just like vaccines, there are risks and they will require regulation. However, study after study has shown that the benefits outweigh the risks, and there is scientific consensus on the issue. In addition, GMO opposition does actively harm people. An example is the opposition to Golden Rice which would significantly reduce Vitamin A deficiency worldwide.
From http://www.goldenrice.org/:
>For biofortification alone GMO technology can deliver high folate rice (mothers’ dietary deficiency causes birth defects), high zinc and high iron rice (dietary deficiency impedes mental development). Similarly, GMO Golden Rice provides a source of vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency is an immune deficiency syndrome, so children die of common infections. It is also the main cause of irreversible childhood blindness. Golden Rice has been accepted as safe for consumption by the Governments of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and USA, and registrations have been applied for in Philippines and Bangladesh. Yet, significantly due to rejection of science by activists, Golden Rice is not yet available to farmers and their communities as an additional intervention for vitamin A deficiency. And neither high folate rice, nor high iron rice, nor high zinc rice, nor Golden Rice could be developed without the use of GMO-technology.
Based on the above, it is logical to group anti-GMO opposition in with anti-vaxxers as people that reject science and endanger the health of humans.