I just listened to this lecture on my iPod yesterday via iTunesU (OSU -> Food for Thought) Just phenomenal. It was a topic Id been thinking about both in terms global political economy and history, but in breeding terms as well. Any of the environmental and political/econ concerns that people raise about GE breeding are turbo-charged x 4 with clone graft breeding, especially in instance of the banana. Mononculture, heavy pesticide use, exploitation of labor, excessive corporate control of society (literally: Banana Republics). The talk did not disappoint on covering those issues, but there were a bunch of other interesting things. 1. Consumers and chefs can help support and save sustainable banana production by trying different varieties (especially the Gros Michel/Bluefield) and knowing the appropriate ripeness and how to use them. 2. Organic production can only be done through deforestation because you need land that is free from the pathogens that are controlled chemically in conventional production. 3. Bar codes were developed by Dole when they adopted the Cavendish which needed to be boxed to travel. 4. Lots of other stuff. Enjoy.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 02:53:26 +0000
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