Monsanto's claims, as quoted by Cherubini, seem like "Green Revolution" all
over again to me. In the corn example, it would seem that a reduction in
"ear" production would be a disadvantage. Shifts in emphasis from leaves and
stems to seed or fruit production might be more related to culture than
genetics, but that has historically played a role in crop plant production.
I have no guidelines; I am interested in Monsanto's. However, for the moment
I'll settle for a ratio of total biomass to water, and whether or not the
doubling claim is pure fantasy or if there is solid evidence or theoretical
foundation behind it.
WT
----- Original Message -----
From: "malcolm McCallum" <malcolm.mccal...@herpconbio.org>
To: <ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU>
Sent: Sunday, June 27, 2010 4:36 PM
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Physiology Productivity Promises and BS Re:
[ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology
I am not sure if this fits your guidelines, but please let me know!
Plant breeding of corn species that did not devote energy to tassel
production and instead shiftking those resources to corn might be close.
Only problem was that the resistance to Southern Corn Blight was linked in
some way to producting tassels and ears! So, the disease ravaged the US
corn crop when the weather was right and the strains were abandoned. At
least that is my recollection!
Malcolm
On Sun, Jun 27, 2010 at 3:17 PM, Wayne Tyson <landr...@cox.net> wrote:
Please supply evidence that genetic engineering or any other method can
double the productivity of any species without increasing the amount of
water and nutrients, including a cogent explanation of just how this is
done.
WT
----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Cherubini" <mona...@saber.net>
To: <ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 1:24 PM
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag
ecology
I would say the big biotech companies are the world's leading authorities
with regard to the issue of how we can feed the world in the coming
decades.
Example:
http://www.monsanto.com/responsibility/sustainable-ag/default.asp
Excerpts:
"By 2050, say United Nations’ experts, our planet must double
food production to feed an anticipated population of 9.3 billion people."
"By 2030, Monsanto commits to help farmers produce more and
conserve more by: Developing improved seeds that help farmers
double yields from 2000 levels for corn, soybeans, cotton, and
spring-planted canola, with a $10 million grant pledged to improve
wheat and rice yields.”
Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, Calif.
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Malcolm L. McCallum
Managing Editor,
Herpetological Conservation and Biology
1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert
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MAY help restore populations.
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