Musings of an Expagan

A recent conference in Rome touting the benefits of genetically modified seeds may point to a division between the Vatican and African bishops over the use of genetically modified food. Praising “seeds that have been improved by techniques that intervene in their genetic makeup,” Archbishop Giampaolo Crepaldi of Trieste, who served as secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace from 2001 until earlier this year, called traditional African agricultural methods “outdated and inadequate.” Archbishop Crepaldi’s view clashes with the position of African bishops who worry that the use of genetically modified seeds will make Africans dependent upon the foreign corporations that make those seeds.

I already have a problem with the rampant gene splicing that is happening in our food chain today.  One of the major issues is that the genetically modified plants are locked i.e. you can’t hold back seeds from last years crop, and grow the same crop.  For many years this was how farmers lived and worked.  Seeds were bought, seeds were stored, seeds were used.  Thank God there are many out there who have dedicated their lives to saving antique seed stock and properly developed hybrids.  The food supply should not be in the hands of a few Agro-Cartels.

The African Bishops are right to wonder if they will be held hostage by large Agro-Businesses like Monsanto, and others.  Next stop for Monsanto is Terminator Technology.  Where the seeds from the first crop won’t grow when planted.  Think of it as DRM for plants.  Lord help us if this jumps plant species because that would really stink.