You say potato. I say genetically engineered product that will do harm to our earth.

[franceslievens]

On Sunday some activists of the so-called 'Field Liberation Movement' destroyed a potato field where researches of the University of Ghent were growing experimental crops of genetically modified potatoes. This variety was made resistant to a fungal that causes a high percentage of lost crops, and asks for a large use of fungicide. One would cheer this new variety on, including the fact that genetic engineering led to the same result one would get with classic breeding, but much quicker.
But the FLM thinks otherwise. "Genes will be patented," they say, "They will be sold to the highest bidder." And genetically modified organisms are bad for your health. Best of all was the fear that this potato crop might have contaminated nearby crops. Taken into consideration that the potato we eat, is the product of asexual reproduction, this is a very bold statement. 'Contamination' with other genes requires sexual reproduction, which results in seeds. Does anyone sow potatoes?
They do make some valid points when talking about multinationals, but I don't believe taking on scientists working on fundamental research, is the correct approach. Yesterday on the news, their arguments fell flat, because we had two sides that couldn't quite grasp they were agreeing.
Today the newspaper has a very good article on why those arguments aren't worth listening to.