More gene-swapping than expected!
Back in 2001, I read an article in the NYTimes, which discussed the fact that genetically modified crops are now so widespread that it's nearly impossible to find large supplies of unmodified crops. (The link goes to the abstract as the article is now in the for-pay archives there.) The article contains this interesting tidbit:
"We have found traces in corn that has been grown organically for 10 to 15 years," said Arran Stephens, president of Nature's Path Foods, an organic producer of breads and cereals based in Delta, British Columbia. "There's no wall high enough to keep that stuff contained."
Some critics of biotechnology see a sinister plot at work, with the industry ignoring the implications of widespread pollen flow and perhaps even encouraging a black market in biotech crops.
"They're hoping there's enough contamination so that it's a fait accompli," said Jeremy Rifkin, a longtime critic of biotechnology.
That article kept me up late thinking about the future for several nights in a row, and I've thought about it many times since.
When I saw this article in the Guardian last week, which states that scientists are shocked by how fast genetically modified crops are exchanging genes with wild plants, it was a continuation of the theme for me. It seems that by swapping genes, the wild forms of plants such as sunflowers and sugar beets are getting stronger, and the GM (genetically modified) forms are getting weaker.
A fait accompli indeed. The cat's definitely out of the bag on this one.
8:32:29 AM 
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