128
plants is not selective, i.e. not only the targeted species but other “innocent” living
beings become also victims. Similarly, in the
case of plants made resistant to herbicide, the
goal is to destroy every plants other than the
commercial plant due to the effect of the wide
effect spectrum herbicide. These effects are
typical not only for gene technology but also
for intense, industrialised agriculture as the
effects of various chemicals are very much the
same as above resulting in a serious grade of
biodiversity decrease.
2. In certain cases the application of chemicals
may increase. According to experiences, the
production of gene manipulated plants could
increase the use of chemicals in certain cases.
Farmers in the USA, for example, use herbicide in much greater amount when herbicide
resistant soya is produced than in the case of
untreated plants because it is very unlikely
that chemicals would damage the cultivated
plant itself. More chemicals could cause naturally more damage in the environment, furthermore, they could damage distant areas if
entered into and transported by rivers.
3. Transgenic plants may transfer the modified
gene to other species. Experiment evidence
proves that a gene manipulated plant transferred the modified gene to one of its wild relative species via its pollen. This latter plant could
gain selection advantage thanks to the new gene
and may displace other species as a result.
4. The genetic diversity of commercial plants is
further reduced. Since the production of the
gene manipulated “super type” brings profit
for every producer in the short term the rest
could perish or forced into gene banks at the
most. Individual plants of the “super type”,
however, are almost identical genetically representing a high grade of vulnerability to pests
and environmental changes. All these could
also result in a reduction of food supply safety.
5. Present risk related not only to biodiversity
but also to other—human health and economic. Agricultural gene technology is problematic on only in relation to biodiversity
preservation. Further risk is presented by consuming gene manipulated food and also other
economic threats may arise (e.g. increasing
dependency on biotechnological mammoth
companies and on the technology).
Those arguing for the beneficial effects of gene
technology consider that experts will be able to
give new characteristics to plant species via gene
technology that could not evolve in the given species or not in the desired quantity and quality.
With appropriate expertise more and better quality crop yield will be achieved applying GMOs
(Altman 1998). The strict regulation of gene
technology application is acknowledged by its
supporters as well. When assessing the environmental and dietary risk of GMOs the principle of
substantial equivalence is the starting point. This
means in practice that the most important characteristics of GMO have to be compared to those of
the conventionally grown plant (from agronomical to molecular characteristics). Subsequently it
has to be proved that the GMO is not hazardous
to the environment or health.
Intense soil cultivation and application of fertilisers reduces the humus content of soils compared to natural conditions while CO 2 is released
the majority of which enter the atmosphere intensifying greenhouse effects. Therefore environmentally conscious agriculturists regard sensible
organic matter management very important also
in order to maintain the fertility of soils.
Regarding wider context and systems thinking
many scientists believe that the above could be
achieved by ecological farming.
For understanding ecological farming quality
changes in the agriculture of developed countries
over the last century are discussed in the following and the achieved production level is compared to that of currently poorer countries and
their current possibilities.
4.2.4 Effects of Basic Agricultural
Systems on Soils
and Production Rates
Mixed farms (plant growing and stock breeding)
were typical even in today’s developed countries
in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centu4 Changes on Earth as a Result of Interaction Between the Society and Nature
plants is not selective, i.e. not only the targeted species but other “innocent” living
beings become also victims. Similarly, in the
case of plants made resistant to herbicide, the
goal is to destroy every plants other than the
commercial plant due to the effect of the wide
effect spectrum herbicide. These effects are
typical not only for gene technology but also
for intense, industrialised agriculture as the
effects of various chemicals are very much the
same as above resulting in a serious grade of
biodiversity decrease.
2. In certain cases the application of chemicals
may increase. According to experiences, the
production of gene manipulated plants could
increase the use of chemicals in certain cases.
Farmers in the USA, for example, use herbicide in much greater amount when herbicide
resistant soya is produced than in the case of
untreated plants because it is very unlikely
that chemicals would damage the cultivated
plant itself. More chemicals could cause naturally more damage in the environment, furthermore, they could damage distant areas if
entered into and transported by rivers.
3. Transgenic plants may transfer the modified
gene to other species. Experiment evidence
proves that a gene manipulated plant transferred the modified gene to one of its wild relative species via its pollen. This latter plant could
gain selection advantage thanks to the new gene
and may displace other species as a result.
4. The genetic diversity of commercial plants is
further reduced. Since the production of the
gene manipulated “super type” brings profit
for every producer in the short term the rest
could perish or forced into gene banks at the
most. Individual plants of the “super type”,
however, are almost identical genetically representing a high grade of vulnerability to pests
and environmental changes. All these could
also result in a reduction of food supply safety.
5. Present risk related not only to biodiversity
but also to other—human health and economic. Agricultural gene technology is problematic on only in relation to biodiversity
preservation. Further risk is presented by consuming gene manipulated food and also other
economic threats may arise (e.g. increasing
dependency on biotechnological mammoth
companies and on the technology).
Those arguing for the beneficial effects of gene
technology consider that experts will be able to
give new characteristics to plant species via gene
technology that could not evolve in the given species or not in the desired quantity and quality.
With appropriate expertise more and better quality crop yield will be achieved applying GMOs
(Altman 1998). The strict regulation of gene
technology application is acknowledged by its
supporters as well. When assessing the environmental and dietary risk of GMOs the principle of
substantial equivalence is the starting point. This
means in practice that the most important characteristics of GMO have to be compared to those of
the conventionally grown plant (from agronomical to molecular characteristics). Subsequently it
has to be proved that the GMO is not hazardous
to the environment or health.
Intense soil cultivation and application of fertilisers reduces the humus content of soils compared to natural conditions while CO 2 is released
the majority of which enter the atmosphere intensifying greenhouse effects. Therefore environmentally conscious agriculturists regard sensible
organic matter management very important also
in order to maintain the fertility of soils.
Regarding wider context and systems thinking
many scientists believe that the above could be
achieved by ecological farming.
For understanding ecological farming quality
changes in the agriculture of developed countries
over the last century are discussed in the following and the achieved production level is compared to that of currently poorer countries and
their current possibilities.
4.2.4 Effects of Basic Agricultural
Systems on Soils
and Production Rates
Mixed farms (plant growing and stock breeding)
were typical even in today’s developed countries
in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centu4 Changes on Earth as a Result of Interaction Between the Society and Nature