The development of genetically modified (GM) crops, even for the purpose of saving people from nutrient deficiencies,1 is driven by profit-hungry transnational corporations. Vitamin A deficiency could be much better addressed by promoting polyculture farming with vitamin A–rich green vegetables, especially in urban areas, simultaneously providing many other nutritional benefits. But this approach would not generate the huge corporate profits from selling patented golden rice.
David Schwartzman
Howard University
Washington, D.C.
dschwartzman@gmail.com
The magical thinkers who sing the praises of organic farming have forgotten, or never knew, that organic farming was responsible for the famines previous to the Green Revolution. Before the Green Revolution, almost all the world’s farming was done organically and production was so low that it didn’t create any surpluses for when the weather didn’t cooperate. That means millions of Africans, Chinese, and Indians died every time the rains didn’t come.
Listening to the anti-GMs is very ...
