Florida orchards are in danger because of citrus greening disease. Carried by the Asian citrus psyllid, an insect, the bacterium infects a fruit’s vascular system and starves it of essential nutrients. Pesticides are now being used to kill the psyllid with discouraging results, but many scientists and farmers are promoting biotechnology as the answer. The goal is to create a fruit resistant to the bacterium that causes greening.
Market research has shown the public to mostly reject the idea of introducing proteins from animals like fish and pigs, as well as synthetic proteins, into the food they eat. Granted, it makes me think twice, too, but my daily intake of sugar and salt is probably far worse for me than a minuscule or even moderate amount of anything mentioned above. I also favor a solution that lessens the use of pesticides on food.
The two genes that have a real possibility of helping the orange trees both come from spinach, and one study showed the majority of people don’t mind using genes that come from plants.
In short, I’ll happily drink transgenic orange juice if it saves a large portion of Florida’s economy and it’s not harmful to us. I have to leave it to the experts to decide about the safety issues, but all in all, if it tastes the same, I’m game.
Read full, original article: Genetically modified orange juice may be the answer
