THE LORANDA GROUP, INC

A lot of people in the U.S. have a pre-conceived notion that crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat grown in our country must be reasonably similar to the same crop grown elsewhere.  After all, corn is corn – right?  In some cases, that is true.  However, other parts of the world see things much differently, especially when the crop has been developed via using biotechnology.  While Genetically Modified Organisms (G.M.O.’s) are a staple for farmers throughout this country, there are very few of these crops being grown in Europe.  In fact, only two biotech crops are allowed for cultivation there – a corn hybrid from Monsanto and a potato hybrid from BASF.

One of the challenges in the European Union is melding the interests, politics, and desires of all the different countries.  The biotech controversy recently surfaced in a tiny autonomous region of Portugal called Madeira.  This area became the first in the E.U. to gain approval for a complete ban on the growing of any genetically modified crop.  The story (E.U. Signals Big Shift on Genetically Modified Crops) and its potential impact was recently reported in The New York Times…  “In reality, the Madeira case marks the unofficial beginning of a new — and potentially highly contentious — policy that would give European nations and regions far greater freedom to decide when to ban such crops.”

If the trend toward banning the cultivation of biotech crops continues to grow, my concern is how far behind a total ban (cultivation and consumption) might be.  Yes, the Midwest farmer prospered before the first G.M.O. seed was ever planted.  But consider how much biotech has changed farming practices – from chemical use, to seed use, to methods of cultivation.  The modern farmer is much more efficient with his time and equipment and it can be argued that yields have improved, soil erosion has improved, and the amount of deadly pesticides being applied has been reduced. 

The argument against genetically modified crops, and the one that stirs the most emotions, is simple – there are no long-term studies that show that G.M.O.’s are safe.  Course, there is no evidence that show that they aren’t safe but to many it doesn’t matter.  If the vocal minority continues to gain ground and more bans are implemented, then the affect on the U.S. farmer and his methods of crop production is likely to be significant.