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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Baker's Creek and GMO

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  • From: Bill Shoemaker <wshoemak AT illinois.edu>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Baker's Creek and GMO
  • Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 14:44:42 -0500 (CDT)

> I know it often sounds like I am a defender of
> Monsanto (I am not by any stretch) but does anyone
> actually know if there are GMO vegetables outside
> the commodity crop seed ranges?

Mostly no. But there are a few exceptions, such as sweet corn and potatoes.
The reason most vegetables don't get much attention is because there isn't
enough seed marketed to satisfy corporate bottom lines. For example, there
are varieties of sweet corn which have the Bt gene genetically engineered
into them. The same gene could be inserted into varieties of broccoli,
cabbage and other brassica crops. But the markets for seed wouldn't satisfy
profit expectations.

There is another, probably more important reason why most vegetables have no
GMO varieties. Because most vegetables are directly consumed, the company
which owns the GMO patent and/or variety would have to be prepared for
consumer reaction. Past attempts have not gone well, such as CalGene's Flavor
Saver tomato.

Bill
William H Shoemaker, UI-NRES
Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
St Charles Horticulture Research Center
535 Randall Road St Charles, IL 60174
630-584-7254; FAX-584-4610




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