The use of GMOs (genetically modified organisms): agricultural biotechnology or agricultural biopolitics?
Agricultural biotechnologies embrace a large array of conventional and modern technologies, spanning from composting organic by-products of agriculture to innovative improvement of quality traits of about twenty out of the mostly cultivated plants. In EU a rather restrictive legislative framework has been installed for GMOs, requiring a risk assessment disproportionate with respect to conventional agriculture and organic farming products. The latter are far from being proved safe for human and animal health, and for the environment. Biotechnology of GMOs has been overtaken by biopolitics. On one side there are biotechnological challenges to be tackled, on another side there is plenty of ground for biopolitical decisions about GMOs. Perhaps the era of harsh confrontation could be fruitfully replaced by sensible cooperation, in order to get a sustainable agricultural development.
Nuti
Marco
M
Department of Crop Plant Biology, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto, 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy. mpnuti@agr.unipi.it
Felici
Cristiana
C
Agnolucci
Monica
M
D000383:Agriculture / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005060:Europe; D007558:Italy; D030781:Organisms, Genetically Modified; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011057:Politics