Citrus affected by greening, an insect-borne bacterial disease (Joe Skipper / Reuters)
The National Academy of Sciences is urging people to focus less on the process and more on the product.
Today the National Academy of Sciences released a 420-page response to public concerns about “genetically modified organisms” (GMOs) in agriculture. The report is a leap forward in the discussion, capturing a comprehensive review of two decades of scientific literature as well as perspectives from academia, industry, activists, and those in between—on implications for the global economy, human rights, and the continued existence of species, human and otherwise.
The findings are important in that they refuse to participate in popular binary arguments—though that critical point has not fully come across in news coverage. As The New York Times reported today, “Genetically Engineered Crops Are Safe, Analysis Finds,” in that “genetically engineered crops appear to be safe to eat and safe for the environment.” The AP reported much the same, that the message of the “high-powered science advisory board” is that “genetically manipulated food remains generally safe for humans and the environment.”
This isn’t entirely accurate as a reflection of the stated intent of the academy. Nor is it, I think, a productive sentiment. It stands to perpetuate divisions among people, while the overall takeaway is more nuanced.