New Report On GMOs, Pesticides
An extensive examination by The New York Times indicates that the debate over genetically modified food “has missed a more basic problem.”
Hawaii has been at ground zero, politically and legally, when it comes to genetically modified organisms聽and pesticide use.
A new report is likely to further the discussion 鈥 and controversy.
The extensive examination has two main findings:
- “genetic modification in the United States and Canada has not accelerated increases in crop yields or led to an overall reduction in the use of chemical pesticides”; and
- “at the same time, herbicide use has increased in the United States, even as major crops like corn, soybeans and cotton have been converted to modified varieties.”
The article adds, “Fears about the harmful effects of eating G.M. foods have proved to be largely without scientific basis.”
But there may be problems with the use of chemicals associated with GMO crops. That is a concern聽that has been raised聽repeatedly in Hawaii.
Just last聽week a Hawaii Island County Council member introduced a bill that聽would prohibit the application of herbicides carrying labels of 鈥渄angerous,鈥 鈥渨arning,鈥 鈥渢oxic to fish,鈥 鈥渢oxic to fish and wildlife鈥 or that indicate a risk of groundwater contamination.
“The bill recommends alternatives such as manual or mechanized removal, nontoxic alternatives or planting of cover crops,” .
The legislation聽would apply to “county-owned or -maintained public parks and along all county-owned or -maintained roads, bikeways, sidewalks, trails and waterways. It would not apply to private property.”
