Re: GMO in Developing Nations

Bruce Sinclair <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

>I haven't seen this benefit anywhere. Is it real ? Has the price for food 
>(incidentally NOT very high anyway :) ) really come down ?

Take a look at farmgate prices in the EU and US.
The statistics should be easily found via google.

>>Over the last few generations the price of basic food commodities has fallen
>>steadily. 
>
>This is irrelevant as to GE or not. The price of all comodities has fallen 
>in real terms. It was doing so before GE ... it will continue to do so in all 
>likelihood.

No with farmers worldwide all losing money (which they are) it won't.
At the end of the day it can only be cheaper if its produced cheaper.

>>This is obvious when you see the amount of land and output that it
>>now takes for a farmer to make a living, this has been growing steadily. My
>>Grandfather could make a good living on 34 cows and 60 sheep, employ three
>>men and even in the 1950s take foreign holidays and also have a weeks
>>holiday in London prior to Christmas.
>>Now the number cows necessary to support one family in the UK is reckoned to
>>be about 150, and to employ three staff you are probably looking at about
>>300.
>
>Because we have machines to do much of the work ... 

Yup, a combine harvester at 350k UKP.
This has to be paid for, you know.

>and becuase commodity 
>prices have fallen.

Because they can be produced more cheaply.

>>Each advance, such as the introduction of tractors, the introduction of
>>herbicides and pesticides, as merely lead to the increase in production of
>>food per man, and the fall in price. GM is merely the next step on that
>>road.
>
>Possibly. I am yet to be convinced.

The look the stats up for yourself.

>>As for the benefit to the consumer, the proportion of the income of the
>>urban population is lower, allowing them more money to spend on other
>>things. 
>
>Proportion used on food ? I'd agree (as minor as I believe that amount is) ... 
>except I've seen nothing to suggest that the food price is in any way related 
>to GE.

Take a look at world grains/soya prices.

-- 
Oz
This post is worth absolutely nothing and is probably fallacious.
DEMON address no longer in use.