Good? Genetic Engineering?

CNN of all places tuned me into this one. It would seem that scientists have developed a flood tolerant variety of rice. But it was apparently not done conventionally, nor does it make any reference to Monsanto's gene gun, or reliance on viral invasion to insert the gene.

The team relied on something called precision breeding, the ability to introduce very specific genes into plants without the associated baggage of other genes that might tag along in conventional breeding.

"This can be a problem for farmers," Ronald said. "The varieties that were developed from conventional breeding were rejected by farmers because they didn't yield well or taste good."

I'm cautiously optimistic which might strike my readers as an about face from my usual luddite tendencies.

First, the flood resistant gene came from another strain of rice. We are not talking about Monsanto's transgenic frankenfoods. Nobody is snatching genes from the animal kingdom and putting them into plant.

Second, their method at first glance appears to be through natural means (though I don't honestly think I know enough about this "precision breeding" to make an absolute judgment. The article does mention that

Because the plants are the product of precision breeding, rather than genetic modification, they are not subject to the same regulatory testing that can delay release of genetically modified crops.

Since the US regulation on GMO seems nonexistent, they must be referring to regulations elsewhere, but the differentiation between GMO and precision breeding in classification puts my mind at ease a bit.

Lastly, the intention of the developer seems largely benevolent. Unlike the ghouls at Monsanto, the developer (Dr. Joyce Ronald at U.C. Davis) seems by and large more concerned with helping farmers adapt to rising sea levels and climatic catastrophe than in protecting "Intellectual Property" (read profit margin).


There remains one question however. Does this plant have the genetic characteristics of a Hybrid? Are subsequent generations inconsistent in their properties, or could this strain be open pollinated? Can seed this particular strain of rice, once planted be regrown the next year without the need for farmers to purchase new seed.

The food crisis is twofold. Clearly science is willing to address environmental factors that contribute to decline in crop yield, but they must also include in the solution a willingness to address economic factors that contribute to a decline in the farming population.

This could turn out to be quite an interesting story, I hope more information will be forthcoming.