Description

Genetically modified plants are currently at the center of a worldwide controversy, and thus a great deal has been written about their supposed environmental effects. However, what the newspaper headlines and debates often exclude or exaggerate is the actual scientific research done on the impacts of these plants. Specific research findings are ignored or touted beyond their scope and intention. The purpose of Genetically Modified Planet is to go beyond environmental rhetoric to investigate for concerned non-scientists the state of scientific research on genetically modified plants.

The prevailing notion among many people and in the press is that environmental impacts of biotechnology are negative. After examining the science, Neal Stewart argues that there are indeed real and potential risks of growing engineered crops, but that there are also real and overwhelmingly positive environmental benefits. The potential problems with growing today's crop of genetically modified plants include the possibilities of insects evolving resistance to plant produced insecticides, increased weed tolerance to herbicides, and gene flow from crops to weeds or wild relatives. However, as of late 2003, over thirty-eight trillion engineered plants have been grown in the United States with no measurable negative effects, and no environmental disasters. In fact, these plants have provided laudable environmental benefits: millions of gallons of insecticide have not been sprayed and tons of soil have not eroded, largely because of biotechnology. The future holds the promise of new plants designed to actually clean up environmental problems and restore endangered species. Stewart concludes that due to these benefits, genetically modified plants are not the monsters they are made out to be.

Product Details

256 pages; 45 maps, halftones & line illus.; 6-1/8 x 9-1/4; ISBN13: 978-0-19-515745-1ISBN10: 0-19-515745-1

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