As someone who has done basic research on butterflies with some NSF
support, I'm grateful to those who have come to its defense in this forum.
But as someone who also does research on tephritid fruit flies, I note
that Gov. Palin's criticism of fruit fly research in Paris, France
appears to refer to a management-related research project on the olive
fly, Bactrocera oleae. I had assumed until recently that she was
referring to Drosophila work, and there seems to be some confusion in
the media on this point.
An informative opinion piece on Gov. Palin's remarks and the fly
research at issue can be found at:
http://www.salon.com/env/feature/2008/10/27/sarah_palin_fruit_flies/index.html
The research in question was promoted by a California congressman and
undoubtedly supported by California's fast-growing olive industry.
California growers are traditionally strong supporters of agricultural
research and olive fly is a potentially devastating pest. Integrated
pest management of tephritid flies has had numerous successes, in our
country and abroad, successes achieved in part or in whole through the
funding of various governments. Just because a special interest supports
a project doesn't mean the project is not in the public's interest as
well.
As the Salon.com piece states, the USDA warned in 2004, "The recent
establishment of the olive fruit fly ... in California has threatened to
destroy the U.S. olive industry." I'm perplexed that Gov. Palin would
use USDA research on olive fly as evidence of government spending that
is not for the public good. If potential direct benefits to a growing
sector in U.S. agriculture have "little or nothing to do with the public
good", what does?
As for the 210K (out of ca. 750K) allocated to work in 'Paris France',
the olive fly hails from the Mediterranean region, and Europeans have
researched the fly for decades. It is at least conceivable that the
allocation is justifiable.
Dan Papaj
*********************************************************
Daniel R. Papaj
Professor and Associate Head
Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721
