Category: Information

On a quiet Sunday morning, two pieces of internet news that might be of interest. Karl J. Haro von Mogel, ((Congratulations.)) of Inoculated Mind, has launched Biofortified.org, a “group blog on Plant Genetics and Genetic Engineering”. The blog is “devoted to educating the public about genetic engineering, and discussing how it intersects many aspects of our lives,” and I wish them luck. Once upon a time I too thought that education would help people to understand. I no longer do. I think the polarized opinions on genetic engineering owe almost nothing to lack of scientific evidence and everything to lack of thought. But maybe that’s just me.

I don’t recall any huge outcry (only little ones) when genetically engineered human insulin came along and removed the need to rely on pigs. ((Although one has certainly been building; I am not qualified to express a view on this.)) And I don’t suppose there’ll be much of an outcry when genetic engineering delivers something that straightforwardly benefits ordinary people — as opposed to those with a financial or political interest.

The discussions will surely be interesting, but in the meantime, regular readers can imagine what I think of Karl’s explanation for the choice of name:

The name Biofortified comes from biofortification, which is when the bioavailable nutritional content of a food crop is enhanced. Literally, strengthened through biology. Like fortifying foods with vitamins, biofortification through breeding or genetic engineering can allow the plants to produce the nutrients that people need on their own. This can be good for people in industrialized nations, but a boon for developing countries. It is also a topic that several of our authors find personally very interesting!

I’m just going to bite my tongue. You needn’t feel so constrained.

The other piece of news is that Eve Sibley commented that the seed swap mechanism I hoped for is now alive and well at World Food Garden.

The craigslist of seeds — post seeds you have to offer or request a particular rare variety.

I hope it works well. Go, try it, report back here.

Just don’t try it with any GM seeds, deliberately or by accident.