What books best give a general overview of genetically modified crops?

Question

What are the economic, biological, ecological debates going on about GM right now. From gene splicing for drought resistance, to terminator technology and pesticide resistance, I need to know answers. I'm looking for a full on, get me knowledgeable so I can form arguments to back up my at the moment unfounded emotional outbursts (eg. GM is just plain wrong!)

Specifically, the book should include:

the history of gm

pesticide resistance

herbicide manufacture

the power of corporations

terminator technology

pharma crops

Also, perhaps the book should extend to genetically modified animals, such as insulin producing cows, goats, etc. Maybe also something about cloning, human development, etc.

More than one book would be fine.

Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

I've read some of the questions you have asked, and some of the questions you have answered.  You give very well thought out answers, and ask some really interesting question.  Much better than the norm on Yahoo Q & A.

Sorry to say, I would only provid further information that GM crops are just plain wrong.  I've answered many questions, in varrious forms about GM crops.  I've been studing/reading about GM crops for many, many years now.

I'm a small farmer, and avid bibliophile.  My husband and I live on a permaculture farm.  We raise meat goats, and meat rabbits, as well as their food (hay) and rapeseed (canola) for fuel for our trucks/tractors.  

We have a fiercely independant streak.  For us, independance is freedom.

Why I think GM crops are bad:

They are made by sometimes well meaning, but short sited scientist.  

Long story made short:

They made a GM crop and gave it free to people in India.

The grain crop (I honestly cannot remember if it was wheat or rice) did indeed produce an abundant harvest, with better nutrition for the people.  People should have been much better off, right?

The GM grain crop was only 12 inches high.  The former crop they had grown for hundreds, maybe thousands of years was grew on stocks three plus feet high.

They used that left over straw to feed their goats, sheep and cattle in the winter months.

Now they had no fodder for the livestock.  Of course stock was not only not able to produce milk, but much of the stock starved to death.  That ment come next planting season the cattle were too weak, or dead to pull the plows.  Farmers were much worse off than before.

Global control of the food supply:  I just answered a question that brought out this topic.  I'll link the question, so you can read my answer:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Really in a nut shell the control, actual ownership of crops, alone is enough to make any person sound of mind with enough brain matter to be able to look into the future shudder.

Pharma crops.  These creep me out bigtime!  How about using goats to produce silk in their milk?   Here's a link, since people often think I'm making stuff up: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8899...

So what if this experiment does not work?  Where do the goats go?  They are not infected with deadly disease, so their are NO LAWS that state they must be deystroyed, right down to any saved eggs, embros or sperm.

So what happens to them, if the program fails?  The same thing that happens to used office furniture....it gets sold off, and cheap.

Perhaps silk in goat milk will not make anyone sick.  But what if it blocks the intestines of a baby?  I personally know of three babies near me that are being raised on raw goat milk, from goats owned by the families, because the babies are allergic to formula.  As always the big question...."what if" the baby is drinking goat milk containing spider silk?

Of course this goes for virtually every single animal and plant GM crop.

Know why the honey bees are dying out?  The ones that are organically raised, with natural sized honey combs, and untampered with genetically are not dying off.  Of course not many people know about the organic honey bees, and the fact that they are thriving.  Did you know that the size of commercial honey bees has been increased 50%?  And people think Colony Collapse Disorder is being caused by cell towers....give me a break.  It's because the honey bees are not too messed with genetically, and finally reached their breaking point.

Of course I think they are being helped right along by the GM crops that now contain insecticides.  That's right...the plants grow up already toxic to insects...the entire plant, including the portion you consume.  You cannot wash of these "safe" GM crops....don't worry they only kill insects (this information of course is provided by the same giant companies making the seeds and the money).  I don't know about you, but I don't want to eat insectices.

Terminator technology.  Oh boy, thats a biggie for me!  I'd sure like to know why folks seem to think it's ok to plant crops you CANNOT save the seeds from, and which by the way will only germinate with the herbicieds, insecticides, fungicides, and fertilizers produced by the same companies that invented these terminator seeds!  

Star Corn was the first GM crop released into nature.  Now almost every single corn crop (over the entire world!!) contains Star Corn genes.  How is this in any way shape or form legal, or ethical?

By the way, if anyone does manage to provide the list of books you are looking for, please continue your research.  Find out who wrote the book, article...then find out who funded them.  I have yet to read a single article on GM crops that was possitive, that did not ultimatly go back to the big companies.  Either the person was a farmer making their living planting the GM crops (vested interest), or it was an "independant" study lavishly funded by the companies making the GM crops.  They are quiet sneaky about it.  They set up little companies (or buy them) under a differnt name.  Then they make the donations throught these other companies, but if traced far enough, you find out the "big boys" are the actual owners.  

Listen to your gut instinct.  Sometimes emotional outburst are correct.  : )

~Garnet

Homesteading/Farming over 20 years