Often not reported in news stories in the national debate on this science question are the views of individual plant biologists. However, plant scientists with in-depth knowledge of modern transformation technologies offer views on this subject which merit public dissemination.
"Genetically Modified Crops: What Do The Scientists Say?" is a new special publication of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) that provides the observations of prominent plant scientists concerning their own perspectives on modified crops. The publication is a collection of a dozen editorials published in ASPB's widely cited plant science journal, Plant Physiology from May 2000 to May 2001. (Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, ASPB was formerly named the American Society of Plant Physiologists formed in 1924.)
Editor-in-Chief of Plant Physiology Dr. Natasha Raikhel of Michigan State University noted, "We (plant scientists) have an obligation to help people understand the reasoning behind scientific research and genetic technology."
Dr. Norman Borlaug, founder of the Green Revolution and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, offers his valuable insights into the role that biotechnology might play, if allowed to, in fighting world hunger. Dr. Ingo Potrykus of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and one of the creators of "Golden Rice," discusses the scientific, legal, and political hurdles that he and his colleagues are working to overcome to achieve their dream of providing vitamin-enhanced rice varieties for free to the poor of the world to prevent millions of children from being stricken blind.
Dr. Mae Berenbaum of the University of Illinois discusses the distortions of science that have arisen as an academic debate concerning the safety of transgenic maize to Monarch butterfly larvae, has become the basis of a propaganda war. Drs. Jesse Machuka of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Luis R. Herrera-Estrella, Professor at Cinvestav-Mexico and Howard Hughes Medical Institute International Fellow, offer their perspectives on what the advances of biotechnology mean for the struggling third world. Dr. Maarten Chrispeels of the University of California, San Diego, also looks at the implications of plant biotechnology for the world's poor people.
Dr. Norman C. Ellstrand of the University of California, Riverside, offers a cautionary note of the need to maintain safeguards against unintended cross-pollination with the release of certain types of GMOs into the environment.
Dr. Chris Somerville of the Carnegie Institution notes that the "pronouncements of professors are much less interesting to the media than those of protestors dressed as corncobs" as he suggests more effective ways for scientists to become involved in the public debate on modified foods. Dr. Bob Buchanan of the University of California, Berkeley, addresses genetic engineering and the allergy issue.
Dr. C.S. Prakash of Tuskegee University looks at the genetically modified crop debate in the context of agricultural evolution. Dr. James Siedow of Duke University reviews three books addressing the needs of feeding a growing world population and relates them to benefits offered by genetically modified crops. Dr. Ben Miflin of the IACR-Rothamsted Experimental Station, United Kingdom, looks at possible ramifications of rejection of modified foods in Western Europe led by nongovernmental organizations, such as Greenpeace. Dr. Anthony Trewavas of the University of Edinburgh discusses the importance of agricultural efficiency to save the wilderness.
This collection of essays is essential reading for anyone interested in gaining a science-based understanding of the scientific questions underlying the GMO controversy.
Press copies of this special publication on modified crops are available by contacting Brian Hyps, ASPB Public Affairs Director at bhyps@aspb.org. Others can order the publication though the ASPB web site at http://www.aspb.org/hotnews/gmcpub.cfm