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I’ve spent the morning talking biotechnology policy issues specifically and food production/processing technologies generally, mostly in the context of prospective congressional hearings to talk about various societal impacts of and political issues surrounding biotech. The morning’s discussion has generated a tremendous frustration with those who oppose food production technology advances, basing their views on little more than rumors/propaganda/urban myths they’ve picked up on social media.

Biotechnology and its implications for the betterment of the planet are issues I’ve been involved in for over 25 years, back to the days when I was a reporter/editor. To be able to scientifically and safely improve plants and animals which feed us by eliminating diseases, overcoming the need for chemicals, to get crops to grow and move to market faster, or to discover crops and animals which can survive and thrive in environments which heretofore wouldn’t support food production is breathtaking in its implications for the overall future of the planet.

I’ve represented the company which proved livestock cloning could create a genetic twin of the barnyard rock stars and do it safely. I’ve taken on other “challenges” in shepherding biotech applications through the FDA approval process while holding off congressional interference in what’s supposed to be an objective, science-based review of safety and efficacy. I’ve worked biotech issues for so long I feel like I’ve earned a PhD in genetics.

This experience taught me most folks are schizophrenic about technology. If a biotech company announced today FDA has approved a biotech-derived cure for or a vaccine against cancer, Alzheimers or HIV-AIDS, the world – and the media – would cheer. Make the same announcement about a faster growing, drought-tolerant, saline-tolerant, insecticide/herbicide-resistant plant variety, and the opponents would be out in force – with full media attention — filing complaints and lawsuits, seeking legislation to ban the products and generally scaring the crap out of the general public. Make an announcement about a genetically improved cow, pig, sheep or other four-legged food animal, and morally superior among our activist friends would declare war.
Biotech has benefitted this country for going on 40 years. Folks forget or never knew the entire wine industry is the result of plant cloning. They forget biotechnology benefits corn and soybean production to the point over 90% of those crops are biotech varieties, removing millions of gallons and thousands of pounds of chemicals from the growing process. Because of these successes those who scream for the labeling of genetically modified foods should understand their demand would result in about 95% of U.S. food production being labeled.

What disturbs me most are folks who purport to be bright individuals, but who are in a position to withhold technology benefits for the rest of us based on their “personal discomfort.” I’ve listened to members of the House and Senate say they’re “uncomfortable” with a technology breakthrough, or as one senior Senator said, “I don’t want to eat a Dollyburger.” Well, Senator, then don’t. Last time I looked there was no one forcing you to accept the product of any technology with which you aren’t personally at east.

However, lawmakers aren’t elected to make technology decisions for the rest of us based on their personal views. They were elected to evaluate the process, the agency deciding safety, efficacy and equivalence, and to make the best objective policy decision on behalf of their state or district.

I understand being skeptical because something sounds “too new,” odd or is out of your comfort zone. However, commonsense should prevail along with a personal responsibility to learn, and trust in those whose job it is to evaluate and approve or disapprove the technology.

My mother used to tell my brothers and me that when the Salk oral polio vaccine was developed, she wasn’t sure she wanted her boys “drinking that stuff.” I did, and I’m glad I did. My mother didn’t let her “discomfort” get in the way. She read every word she could find on Dr. Salk’s breakthrough and did the smart thing.