Are genetically modified high-yield potatoes now “proof against local weather change”? – Are you completed with that?

Essay by Eric Worrall

A new twist in European policy on genetically modified foods?

Christmas dinners are saved by climate-resilient roasters

Date Wed Dec 18 24

The Christmas dinner of the future has been saved by scientists after they developed climate-resilient roast potatoes.

A team from the University of Illinois and the University of Essex has developed a heat-resistant potato plant.

The fact that the adapted plant grows 30% more potatoes under extreme stress in the field is a milestone.

It is hoped this can help families dependent on the staple crop and secure their future in a changing world.

The project is a collaboration with the international Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE) project led by the University of Illinois.

…

The potatoes were adapted by optimizing a process called photorespiration, a photosynthetic process that has been shown to reduce the yield of soybeans, rice and vegetable crops by up to 40%.

…

Read more: https://www.essex.ac.uk/news/2024/12/18/christmas-dinners-saved-by-potato-research

Potatoes are already versatile and resilient. Maine potatoes, which grow in cool Maine, do just as well in subtropical Bundaberg, Australia.

So why call high-yielding potatoes “climate resilient”? A 40% jump in yields seems like an incredibly valuable achievement in itself.

There is an obvious possible explanation for why high-yielding genetically modified crops are considered “climate resilient.”

…

According to the FDA, almost all soybeans, cotton and corn currently grown in the United States are genetically modified, often to resist pests or prevent the use of herbicides.

In addition to feeding humans, genetically modified corn and soybeans are also often used to feed animals. According to the FDA, more than 95% of U.S. livestock and poultry eat genetically modified crops.

In the EU In other parts of the world, genetically modified crops are not widely grown. EU rules require GMO foods to be labeled as such for consumers and allow individual EU countries to ban the cultivation of genetically modified crops if they wish. Most EU countries do not grow GMO crops.

EU GMO regulations still apply in the UK. But in 2023, the rules in England were relaxed to allow the development of plants genetically modified using modern methods such as Crispr.

Further legislation is needed to allow these genetically modified plants – and later animals – to be sold in England. The legislation on plants is due to come into force this summer.

…

Read more: https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-the-evolving-debate-about-using-genetically-modified-crops-in-a-warming-world/

In the UK, Europe and Australia, genetically modified foods have been the subject of a relentless fear campaign for several decades. Genetically modified foods are being referred to as “Frankenfood,” an unholy conspiracy by callous and untrustworthy large agricultural and biotech companies to inflate their profits at the expense of the safety of our children.

But many of the same British and European people who distrust the government and big tech companies' assurances about the safety of genetically modified food paradoxically trust the government's claims that we are in the midst of a climate crisis.

So why not combine the two narratives to see what happens? Clearly we need super plants to survive the mythical coming age of deadly weather extremes and climate change catastrophes. Maybe GM is the answer to saving our children's future.

I could be reading too much into this. Potatoes that grow faster are likely to be more resistant to heat waves and other stressors. However, it will be fascinating to see whether mixing genetic engineering with climate change narratives leads to greater acceptance of genetic engineering in the UK and Europe.

Like this:

How Load…

Related

Explore more from Watts Up With That?

Subscribe to receive the latest posts by email.