Register | Sign In


Understanding through Discussion


EvC Forum active members: 65 (9162 total)
4 online now:
Newest Member: popoi
Post Volume: Total: 915,807 Year: 3,064/9,624 Month: 909/1,588 Week: 92/223 Day: 3/17 Hour: 1/0


Thread  Details

Email This Thread
Newer Topic | Older Topic
  
Author Topic:   Agent Orange Corn
herebedragons
Member (Idle past 857 days)
Posts: 1517
From: Michigan
Joined: 11-22-2009


Message 1 of 2 (666257)
06-25-2012 9:42 AM


In 1996, the first Roundup Ready crops (soybeans) were released to market in the U.S. Roundup Ready crops virtually eliminated the need to till fields which reduced erosion and the runoff of pesticides and fertilizers. It also reduced the usage of fossil fuels needed for plowing prior to planting. No-till agriculture was quickly embraced as an environmentally friendly, cost effective technique.
However, in the 20 or so years since the introduction of Roundup Ready crops, the weeds have developed a genetic modification program of their own. At least 23 weeds have developed resistance to glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup), 30 to 2,4-D (the most widely used herbicide in the world), 69 to Atrazine, and 125 to Chlorsulfuron. In total, there are some 388 known herbicide resistant biotypes. source
Now, Dow Chemical is seeking approval of a new genetically modified corn under the brand name Enlist which is immune to the herbicide 2,4-D. The promise of this new GMO is that farmers will be able to treat fields with mixtures of herbicides (in this case, specifically glyphosate and 2,4-D mixtures) and thus have a broader range of weed kill. Critics are referring to this new GM crop as Agent Orange corn because 2,4-D was one of the ingredients used in Agent Orange.
***A short primer on Agent Orange for those who may be unfamiliar: Agent Orange was part of a series of herbicide / defoliants used during the Vietnam War; the so called Rainbow Herbicides (there was Agent Blue, Purple, Pink, White, Green and Orange). Orange was the most widely used and was a 50:50 mixture of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, both of which are relatively safe herbicides with only moderate toxicity. However, it was discovered that Agent Orange produced before 1970 was contaminated with an extremely toxic dioxin 2,3,7,8-TCDD due to the manufacturing process. It was TCDD that was primarily responsible for the problems and subsequent reputation of Agent Orange and tighter manufacturing controls significantly reduced contamination. But contamination could not be completely eliminated and so the use of 2,4,5-T was completely terminated in 1985. It is therefore, somewhat misleading to refer to the new GM corn as Agent Orange corn as it has only one of the ingredients used in Agent Orange and is not contaminated with the dioxin TCDD. A fairly typical scare tactic.
That said, our dependence on chemicals is changing our world at an unprecedented rate. To have over 20 plants evolve the resistance to such a potent herbicide as glyphosate in 20 years is remarkable and a rather frightening forecast for the future. The potential for further evolution or genetic escapes is a major cause of concern. So is feeding an ever expanding human population in a world where resources are becoming more and more scarce.
The question(s) is/are: How far should we go with genetically modified foods? Are we improving our lives or inviting disaster? Can we balance environmental benefits such as no-till farming with the dangers of pesticide use?
I am not so much interested in political or social opinions, but how we could approach this problem from a scientific or practical perspective.
Not sure what forum this belongs in ... miscellany perhaps?

Admin
Director
Posts: 12995
From: EvC Forum
Joined: 06-14-2002
Member Rating: 2.3


Message 2 of 2 (666262)
06-25-2012 10:56 AM


Thread Copied to Creation/Evolution Miscellany Forum
Thread copied to the Agent Orange Corn thread in the Creation/Evolution Miscellany forum, this copy of the thread has been closed.

Newer Topic | Older Topic
Jump to:


Copyright 2001-2023 by EvC Forum, All Rights Reserved

™ Version 4.2
Innovative software from Qwixotic © 2024