bepah

I am curious as to why the Australian Growers are resistant to the GM Cavendish.

I am assuming that they are afraid that people will not consume these bananas for either rational or irrational fears they may have about GM edibles.

Are there side effects to eating them? If so, what are they? Do the genetics that allow the Fusarium not to survive affect the human body?

Many of the arguments around genetic mutations surround the fact that they fear what is not understood. Mutations may have bad side effects (including death) for the species that is mutated, but there also are positive effects of mutations as well. Corn, for example, a very popular dish in this country, is highly mutated and has been for years. Milk comes from cows that have been mutated through selective breeding for centuries. We now have the technology to control the mutation and speed it up.

It is simple for someone to state "Tweaking these peoples' diets doesn't make much sense," Mr Phelps said.

"It would make a lot more sense if people were empowered to build their own gardens and to produce their own fresh foods."

Believe it or not, everyone today does not grow their own food and hunting in cities is limited.

Commercial farmers must provide for those who cannot grow their own. The agrarian/subsistance culture is long gone from most cultures in the world. Going backward to this would lessen our achievements and progress, especially in the health area. To suggest that everyone should grow their own food is, at best naive, or disingenuous in their argument.

This is a fascinating topic and should be in the Banana Economics Forum.

Jarred, does it make sense to move it?

Thanks!

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John Case
Rookie Gardener, Veteran Drinker