Wednesday, March 03, 2004
First in the Nation GMO ban passed
Voters in Mendocino county, CA today approved a ban on the growth of genetically modified crops, 56-44. Hippies and organic wine growers (both very prevalent in Mendocino county) win out over agribusiness, which fears the ban could set a precedent for other such measures across the nation. Personally I have mixed feelings on this issue, but anyone who opposes GMOs on environmental grounds should take a look at Michael Pollan's book The Botany of Desire. Pollan, a gardener and amateur botanist, has serious reservations about genetically modified crops, but after a trip to Idaho to research the horrifying practices of potato farmers, he comes to the conclusion that GMOs may be the lesser of two evils.
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