Envelope please...
June 19, 2013 12:45 PM Subscribe
This year's World Food Prize is awarded to three scientists, including the Chief Technology Officer from Monsanto, for the creation of genetically modified crops.
This post was deleted for the following reason: I'm agreeing with this fella; might be better to do a post that's thoroughly about the World Food Prize in general than to sort of poke the proverbial bear by just headlining a Monsanto nod with little context. -- cortex
This FPP is pretty blatant flamebait. I'm personally against GMO-fearmongering, but the "World Food Prize" was founded to honor Norman Borlaug, so it's not as if it's a shock that someone who created GMO crops would get it.
posted by anewnadir at 12:54 PM on June 19, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by anewnadir at 12:54 PM on June 19, 2013 [4 favorites]
The prize should have been secreted in a random field in Oregon, for the winners to find or stumble upon. #WeDontKnowHowItGotThere
posted by Wordshore at 12:59 PM on June 19, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Wordshore at 12:59 PM on June 19, 2013 [2 favorites]
It's a brilliant body of work, and plant biology is under-appreciated in general, despite its critical importance to our society.
posted by mr_roboto at 1:04 PM on June 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by mr_roboto at 1:04 PM on June 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
In twenty years I suspect we'll look at anti-GMO protesters much like the anti-vaccination crowd now.
Maybe. Well, if the vaccinators gave you your vaccinations one year at a time, and then accidently snuck vaccine into your blood when you weren't looking, then claimed they owned your blood, then took your blood, changed it minutely to extend their patents, and charged you more for it because your new blood won't work with last year's vaccines. Then it would be the same.
posted by cjorgensen at 1:06 PM on June 19, 2013 [24 favorites]
Maybe. Well, if the vaccinators gave you your vaccinations one year at a time, and then accidently snuck vaccine into your blood when you weren't looking, then claimed they owned your blood, then took your blood, changed it minutely to extend their patents, and charged you more for it because your new blood won't work with last year's vaccines. Then it would be the same.
posted by cjorgensen at 1:06 PM on June 19, 2013 [24 favorites]
cjorgensen: don't forget to pay them when you have a kid, 'cause, you know.
posted by gorestainedrunes at 1:09 PM on June 19, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by gorestainedrunes at 1:09 PM on June 19, 2013 [3 favorites]
I totally agree with the first two sentences of Keith Talent's comment and the entirety of cjorgensen's comment.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 1:17 PM on June 19, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 1:17 PM on June 19, 2013 [2 favorites]
Millions of people that would be dead of starvation right now are not due their work. If that isn't prize worthy I don't know what is.
Untrue. Current food shortages are due to economic factors. There is a worldwide food surplus.
posted by junco at 1:18 PM on June 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
Untrue. Current food shortages are due to economic factors. There is a worldwide food surplus.
posted by junco at 1:18 PM on June 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
I was wondering it this wasn't just a Monsanto front, but looking at past winners, the prize is given to all kinds of people: scientists, politicians, agriculturists, trying lots of different kinds of solutions.
I'm still one of those people wary of folks who say we need to rush in to GMO, but it looks like we shouldn't dismiss this as mere corporate cheerleading.
posted by benito.strauss at 1:21 PM on June 19, 2013
I'm still one of those people wary of folks who say we need to rush in to GMO, but it looks like we shouldn't dismiss this as mere corporate cheerleading.
posted by benito.strauss at 1:21 PM on June 19, 2013
Untrue. Current food shortages are due to economic factors. There is a worldwide food surplus.
And a challenge with distribution and transportation infrastructure.
In twenty years, I wouldn't be surprised if we looked upon this like we do thalidomide.
Granted, the scientists are researchers and may well have their ideals intact, its the business model that's the problem.
posted by infini at 1:22 PM on June 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
And a challenge with distribution and transportation infrastructure.
In twenty years, I wouldn't be surprised if we looked upon this like we do thalidomide.
Granted, the scientists are researchers and may well have their ideals intact, its the business model that's the problem.
posted by infini at 1:22 PM on June 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
(Maybe the Prize deserves a post that gives more history, and doesn't lead with its action most likely to re-ignite one of the same old arguments we have here.)
posted by benito.strauss at 1:24 PM on June 19, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by benito.strauss at 1:24 PM on June 19, 2013 [2 favorites]
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Millions of people that would be dead of starvation right now are not due their work. If that isn't prize worthy I don't know what is.
In twenty years I suspect we'll look at anti-GMO protesters much like the anti-vaccination crowd now.
posted by Keith Talent at 12:52 PM on June 19, 2013 [10 favorites]