Musings: What I Do

A persistent critic in comments keeps asking what, exactly, I do for the Cornell Alliance for Science. It's actually pretty easy to find out, since my work is posted on the Alliance website and searchable under my byline.

But I'll make it even easier, by summarizing some of it here.

I've written about the National Academy of Sciences' study on GMO crops, attempts to save the iconic American chestnut through genetic engineer, and the efforts of an Indian scientist to confer the pest-repelling properties of garlic and onions on other veggies. I've written about the climate impacts of a GMO ban, transgenic animal research, and what farmers need in India.

Most recently, I wrote about a project that is tweaking the process of photosynthesis to improve yields of cassava, which has tremendous implications for the 800 million persons who depend on that food crop in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

I've worked on a number of videos, including the half-hour documentary on the rise of the anti-GMO movement in Hawaii and its impact on the ringspot-resistant papaya; the fast-growing AquaBounty salmon; climate change in Hawaii, and the adoption of Bt brinjal in Bangladesh, which has helped farmers there greatly reduce their use of pesticides and earn higher profits.

I've written about the work of Dr. Susan Miyasaka, whose former graduate student successfully engineered a variety of Chinese taro resistant to taro leaf blight. But then misinformed, loud-mouthed activists like Walter Ritte got involved and UH caved and destroyed that research. It didn't even involve Haloa. It was Chinese taro, worked on by a Chinese scientist. But then, nuances and accuracy have never been the strong suit of the antis.

I've also written about a project funded by the US government, Bill Gates and Warren Buffet that is using both genetic engineer and conventional breeding to develop drought-tolerant corn for Africa, with the seed controlled by African companies. 

Right now, I'm working on a video about some really cool research that is attempting to replicate the nitrogen-fixing capabilites of legumes (beans and peas) in crops like barley and corn. It has the potential to improve yields for small farmers, and also reduce the huge agricultural pollution problem of nitrogen, which is an issue for both organic and conventional farmers.

In doing this work, I've met some brilliant scientists, dedicated farmers and amazing citizens who are driven by the desire to ease hunger and poverty and make the world a better place. They're working to reduce pollution, boost the sustainability and productivity of agriculture and improve food security around the globe.

My work with the Alliance keeps me focused primarily on the hopeful, positive side of biotech, and the really good people who are working in that field. It gives me the passion and motivation to keep slogging through the ugly, depressing side of biotech, as represented by the fact-challenged, demagogue-dominated anti-GMO movement.

That's the side I cover in this blog, using my own time and my own resources. It's not unlike what I've been doing with this blog for the past nine years, when I wrote about the ugly side of Hawaii and Kauai politics, the prosecutor's office, the vacation rental industry, beach and shoreline access, drug abuse, domestic violence and so many other topics.

I keep covering the anti-GMO movement in Hawaii because it's pervasive and persistent. Just this week, Outside published a partisan screed that contained flat out lies. Meanwhile, the "Island Earth" video, yet another propaganda piece extolling the virtues of 'o'o agriculture and the horrors of modern farming, is making the rounds. 

Sadly, people believe this stuff and it's motivating at least some of them to attack Hawaii agriculture, which is already struggling. 

So you have to start thinking about, who, exactly, benefits from pushing the perception that the land in Hawaii has been poisoned by sugar and seeds —that it's too poisonous to farm?

You guessed it: the real estate industry. Which is why it's no surprise that Hawaii Life, the premier gentrifier of ag land in the Islands, has been a big supporter of the anti-GMO movement, right along with the "nonprofit" groups that raise money via fear-mongering and the organic industry that profits from GMO fears.

So I have to laugh when people get so upset by my little blog and the work of the Alliance. Yes, God forbid there should be a voice or two in the wilderness attempting to share accurate info and directly counter the huge anti-GMO propaganda machine. 

As for industry, it isn't doing much, and what it is doing is late, and not nearly enough. Though that is not meant in any way as a criticism of the Hawaii people working on its behalf — people for whom I've developed a great deal of respect.

I'm not industry's voice, nor do I work for it. If I did, I wouldn't be letting liars like Outside's McKay Jenkins get away with writing this kind of bullshit:

They plant these seeds, then spray them with a wide variety of chemicals that are designed to kill weeds and insects. When they find food crops that can stand up to these toxins, they begin the process of taking them to market.

Yes, this belief still prevails among antis because industry has not done a good job of explaining to people what it does here in the Islands. And pesticide testing isn't part of, despite what people like Gary Hooser, Ashley Lukens and Jeri DiPietro claim.

Still, I did find a bit of pleasure in reading McKay when he told of Gary Hooser's response to losing his Council seat and the court decision overturning Hawaii's failed GMO laws: “Each incident was like a gut punch.”

Every now and then, justice is served. And that, like the good stuff, keeps me chugging along.