It Takes More Than Just Good Science
Hey everyone, Sarah here again. In my last post I spoke about the economic viability of GM Foods and the possible benefits it can have for Trinidad. My fellow bloggers also posted some thought provoking information about GMOs so if you haven’t already, you should go check it out and have a read.
GM Foods, one of the more recent forms of biotechnology, proves that no matter how sound the science, there will always be problems which would hamper its progress.
Are anti-GMO activists following in the footsteps of their ancestors?
I recently looked at a movie, and one of the characters said it’s not about lying or trying to disprove the truth, it’s just about creating doubt. While I don’t particularly remember what he was referring to, I am convinced that this statement stands true for GMOs, especially GM Foods. This may be due to how mindful we are to what we put into our bodies. However, we may turn a blind eye to doubles every Saturday morning, or even worse, every morning, and then we would out rightly reject GM Foods just because of its stigma.
So what are some of the factors which can hamper GMOs progress?
- The morals and values which citizens’ hold dear (Vàzquez-Salat, 2013). There may be the belief that it is unethical to interfere with the natural order of things.
- Cultural norms
- Anti-GMO groups (Vàzquez-Salat, 2013) (M. Zhang, Wohlhueter, H. Zhang, 2016) These groups base their arguments on health related issues such as possible allergic reaction, and environmental factors as indicated by my fellow blogger Saskia.
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Engineering debates on GMOs: How to change minds when emotions overrule science
In Vàzquez-Salat’s 2013 research, it is indicated that Argentina is one of the leaders in GM animals in the world, and their research has caused a favorable ripple effect on the perception of GMOs. Hopefully, this would also be so for Trinidad, as we desperately need a way out of our economic turmoil.
So to sum it all up, good, sound science is just not enough to convince everyone. There are many other variables which play a major role in guaranteeing the success of GMOs today. Therefore, what can we in Trinidad do to aid this?
Interested in GMOs? Check this video out.
Interested in GMOs? Check this video out.
Seeker - Is it Safe to Eat Genetically Modified Animals?
S.P.
References
Sources:
Vazquez-Salat, N. (2013). Are Good Ideas Enough? The Impact of Socio-Economic and Regulatory Factors on GMO Commercialisation. Retrieved from http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?pid=S0716-97602013000400002&script=sci_arttext
Zhang, C.,Wohlhueter, R., & Zhang, H. (2016) Genetically Modified Foods: A Crtical Review of Their Promise and Problems. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213453016300295?via%3Dihub
Images:
Zhang, C.,Wohlhueter, R., & Zhang, H. (2016) Genetically Modified Foods: A Crtical Review of Their Promise and Problems. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213453016300295?via%3Dihub
Images:
Genetic Literacy Project, (2015). Are anti-GMO activists following in the footsteps of their ancestors? Retrieved from https://geneticliteracyproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Screen-Shot-2015-03-18-at-12.54.41-PM.png
Ruishalme, I. Genetic Literacy Project, (2015). Engineering debates on GMOs: How to change minds when emotions overrule science. Retrieved from https://geneticliteracyproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/conflict-405x405.jpg
Genetic Literacy Project, (2017). Retrieved from https://thelogicofscience.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/genetic-literacy-project-gmo-protest-sign-patent.png?w=640
Good read. So clearly we see how economincally viable GMOs can be within our society. As you mentioned there are some hindrances to effective implementation such as ethical responsibilites. Whos responsibility will it be to persuade these groups of the benefits and what do you think are the most effective ways to go about this?
ReplyDeleteHey Jeremiah, thanks a lot for your feedback! Definitely GMOs can be a great advantage, however the setbacks can be merely minor if carried about the right way. Persuasion would have to start from an authoritative position, so for instance the government would be a good start to introduce the use of GM foods. Seminars and public sessions are necessary to sensitise the public about this topic. Also incorporating it in lessons of students as young as the primary school level would boost their understanding and adaptation of this into their lives. Stay tuned for more!
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