Changing Course On GMOs

by Stuart Shapiro

Mark Lynas (pictured right) has long been one of the leading environmental opponents of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).  He’s changed his views dramatically (h/t Torie Bosch):

I want to start with some apologies. For the record, here and upfront, I apologise for having spent several years ripping up GM crops. I am also sorry that I helped to start the anti-GM movement back in the mid 1990s, and that I thereby assisted in demonising an important technological option which can be used to benefit the environment. . .

So I did some reading. And I discovered that one by one my cherished beliefs about GM turned out to be little more than green urban myths.

Lynas came to realize that he was advocating for science on climate change and against it on GMOs.  And if one is going to advocate following the science, one has to be consistent.  Bravo . . . now if only those who argue against scientific support for climate change would also “do some reading.”

By: Stuart Shapiro

Stuart is a professor and the Director of the Public Policy
program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. He teaches economics and cost-benefit analysis and studies
regulation in the United States at both the federal and state levels.
Prior to coming to Rutgers, Stuart worked for five years at the Office
of Management and Budget in Washington under Presidents Clinton and
George W. Bush.