Instead of trashing the sound science of biotechnology, why not think of the applications in post-harvest biology? It can be done. A paper this week in Plant Physiology shows that by silencing the Alternative Oxidase gene in cassava, it is possible to delay deterioration by 14-21 days. Actually there are many good postharvest examples like this– where genes from that plant are silenced or overexpressed, leading to enhanced food quality.

The reason you will not see it soon is because such crops only have value in the third world or little horticultural value here. There is no incentive for BigAg to commercialize them. It costs too much to do it and regulations are so high.

That same regulatory barrier keeps independent public scientists like me out of commercialization. The unnecessarily high barriers only help Monsanto, Dow and others that know the process and have the money to use it.

The other thought is using biotech to devise crops that can grow and produce in the places where people need food. That takes out the logistical problem altogether.

So let’s use biotech to make more and use biotech as part of an integrated plan to assist distribution. It is not a sole solution. It is part of a solution that includes innovative production and management practices along with traditional breeding too. Let’s get food to those that need it most and use every tool in the toolbox to do it faster, better and more safely. Thanks.