GMO's Required to Narrow Water Gap?

New UN report states that "making water-intensive sectors more efficient" is the only way of restoring supply-demand balance. The most water-intensive sector, by a huge margin, is agriculture. Not only do Monsanto's drought-resistant seeds need less water, they also require less fertilizer, thereby reducing the weed-nourishing runoff that pollutes lakes, rivers and streams

The UN's annual World Water Development Report, published last March, warned that unless the balance between demand and supplies is restored, the world will face a "global water deficit" of 40 per cent by 2030. Two weeks ago, protesters in hundreds of cities in 38 countries rallied against agricultural research giant Monsanto's genetically modified plant seeds. What do these seemingly disparate events have in common? The first issues an urgent call for action crucial to the future of mankind. The second denounced one of the most promising ways of avoiding that impending crisis.

The UN report states that "making water-intensive sectors more efficient" is the only way of restoring supply-demand balance. The most water-intensive sector, by a huge margin, is agriculture. Not only do Monsanto's drought-resistant seeds need less water, they also require less fertilizer, thereby reducing the weed-nourishing runoff that pollutes lakes, rivers and streams.

The world scientific community is strongly supportive of genetic seed technology. The American Association for the Advancement of Science states, "Biotechnology is safe." The French Academy of Sciences agrees: "All criticism against GMOs [genetically modified organisms] can largely be rejected on scientific criteria." The national science academies of Germany, India and China as well as Britain's Royal Society share the same view. And the World Health Organization states, "No effects on human health problems have been shown as a result of the consumption of GM foods." This statement comes after trillions of GMO-grown meals have been eaten over the past 15 years.

The March against Monsanto website alleges that studies show genetically modified foods "can lead to health conditions, such as the development of cancer tumours, infertility and birth defects." Despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary, millions of people believe this groundless propaganda, bringing to mind Stevie Wonder's hit song Superstition and the line, "When you believe in things you don't understand."

How could so many people have become convinced that GMO foods are dangerous? The answer to that question came in a shocking January, 2013, speech by Mark Lynas, founder of the anti-GMO food movement. "We employed a lot of imagery about scientists in their labs cackling demonically as they tinkered with the building blocks of life. Hence, the Frankenstein-food tag. This absolutely was about deep-seated fears of scientific powers being used secretly for unnatural ends. These fears spread like wildfire. … This has been the most successful campaign I have ever been involved with."

Mr. Lynas's redemption came when he finally decided to look at the science. He learned that pest-resistant seeds reduce insecticide use. Crucial to the UN report's prime objective of reducing water consumption, he found that drought-resistant plants lessen unsustainable depletion of water aquifers, rivers and lakes. And contrary to his own Frankenfood label, he found that GMO research is actually safer and more precise than traditional plant genetics that "mucks about with the entire genome in a trial and error way."

Unfortunately, these startling revelations from the creator of the anti-GMO movement have come too late to reverse the runaway Frankenfood religion with millions of converts around the world. Rather than convincing his congregation to abandon their misplaced faith, his personal redemption has only turned him into an apostate in the eyes of his former followers.

Source:The Globe and Mail

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