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There is science in opposition to GMOs

Patrick Beach of Palatine warns us to not be lured by "anti-science, anti-business Luddite-thinking people," referring to the GMO debate.

I am very pro-science, and pro-business, with a degree in biology. Using the term "Luddite" is a good way of denigrating those with an opposing viewpoint. Mr. Beach asserts that "our agricultural industry uses much less water, pesticides and fuel when growing GMO foods." The whopper in this statement is the claim of reduced pesticide usage with GMO crops. In fact, if you look at the documented peer-reviewed scientific research, the opposite is true.

Herbicide tolerant (HT) GMO crops have resulted in a massive increase in pesticide application (an additional 527 million pounds in the U.S., in the 15 years from 1996 to 2011, according to a 2012 study by Washington State University Professor Charles Benbrook).

The results of that study were published in the peer-reviewed journal "Environmental Sciences Europe."

Primarily, the HT crops in question have been modified to be more tolerant to the relatively high-dose glyphosphate-based Roundup by Monsanto Corp. As insects continue to increase their Roundup resistance, ever-increasing amounts of Roundup need to be applied in the future.

On the other hand, GMO crops expressing the insecticidal toxin bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have reduced insecticide use by 130 million pounds. However, as insects continue to develop resistance to Bt, more pesticide will be needed in the future to achieve the same effects.

Now, one could make a twisted argument that increased pesticide usage helps business. But down the road, how many billions, or trillions, of dollars will be spent by the American taxpayer to help repair our shattered ecosystems? How many iconic creatures, like our rapidly vanishing Monarchs, must pay the ultimate price for our greed?

Kevin Goczeski

Arlington Heights

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