Comments on: Why plant breeding is incompatible with Organic Agriculture

By: Karl Haro von Mogel

Karl Haro von Mogel — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 23:36:51 +0000

Which part of the argument? You’re not giving me much to go off of with your question.

By: (GMO)

(GMO) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 22:33:15 +0000

what evidence, data , or reasons do you have to support this argument? plzz replay me back today

By: Biofortified » Ten bad reasons why GE is incompatible with Organic

Biofortified » Ten bad reasons why GE is incompatible with Organic — Fri, 14 May 2010 20:36:17 +0000

[...] Previously, I showed how Jim Riddle’s 10 reasons why genetic engineering is incompatible with organic agriculture apply equally well to plant breeding. But many plant breeding techniques are allowed in organic agriculture. So how can these characteristics apply to both breeding and genetic engineering while one is compatible and the other is not? The answer lies in a tangled web of invalid logic and unsound argumentation. It requires not only misrepresenting genetic engineering, it also misrepresents organic agriculture. Let’s go through point by point. (You might need a cup of coffee or a stiff drink) 1. Basic science. Humans have a complex digestive system, populated with flora, fauna, and enzymes that have evolved over millennia to recognize and break down foods found in nature to make nutrients available to feed the human body. GMO crops and foods are comprised of novel genetic constructs which have never before been part of the human diet and may not be recognized by the intestinal system as digestible food, leading to the possible relationship between genetic engineering and a dramatic increase in food allergies, obesity, diabetes, and other food-related diseases, which have all dramatically increased correlated to the introduction of GMO crops and foods. [...]

By: Karl Haro von Mogel

Karl Haro von Mogel — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:27:12 +0000

Yep, this post was just a primer – You might want to read the second part!

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 13 May 2010 06:51:23 +0000

The only fair way to critique Mr. Riddle’s argument is to approach his argument with the following questions:

1. What are the premises of his argument?
2. Does his conclusion follow from his premises?
3. Are his premises true?

By: Anastasia Bodnar

Anastasia Bodnar — Thu, 13 May 2010 00:10:37 +0000

Just a hint: Here at Biofortified, and on many other websites, whenever someone swears or adds insults to their comments, they are immediately disregarded by others in the conversation. If you’re actually interested in discussion, that’s great, your input is welcome! But that means contributing coherent thoughts, not slinging insults.

By: eddie

eddie — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:16:59 +0000

Are plant breeders organic farmers? The point I was making was that they are not. I’d be happy to accept evidence that I’m wrong. I was going on a definition of ‘plant breeding’ that is similar to Andre’s in the comment near the top. Does the practice of “keep[ing] the best naturally adapted plants for their future seed stock” sound like what Andre described?

Fair enough if we’re going on a different definition of ‘organic farming’. It happens. Look at the difference between US and EU definitions of ‘extra virgin olive oil’.

Oh, and as to your other reply, about what is and is not an analogy; If you cannot say that plant breeding is no different to what organic farmers and advocates are arguing for, then the whole argument is pointless. You have said openly that that is not what you are claiming. So, what is the point?

This comment got caught by the spam filter, but I am restoring it to the blog as a further example of what happens when you don’t actually read and understand what you are arguing about. -KJHvM

By: Karl Haro von Mogel

Karl Haro von Mogel — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:07:10 +0000

That’s ok, I tossed one last cracker, too. I will be spamming further trollish comments. If Eddie has anything substantive to say, I’ll let the comments through.

By: Ewan R

Ewan R — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:02:29 +0000

The discussion isn’t around corporate usury, it is around the utilization of transgenics in organic agriculture.

I can see why you’d be confused though.

(sorry Karl…. I also feed the penguins at the zoo!)

By: Karl Haro von Mogel

Karl Haro von Mogel — Wed, 12 May 2010 19:54:38 +0000

And that is a complete misunderstanding of what an analogy is. Of course it is not what anyone is advocating, which is why the analogy is an argument against what some are advocating.