> > >What is the evidence that university scientists can't afford to get their > GMOs approved through "the regulatory process"? I recently was invited to speak at a conference put on by UC Davis, at which precision breeding researchers (mostly university) from all over the world attended. These researchers are working in the public interest, with zero profit motive, and are frustrated as heck that the improved cultivars upon which they've devoted years to develop are not being released to the farmers who could benefit from them. I had dinner with three university researchers from different African countries, and they asked me, "Randy, why do American activists lobby in our countries to prevent us from releasing virus-resistant cultivars that could save so many of our farmers from crop failure, and save many of our people from starvation?" >Why should they care if they get their GMOs approved, anyway, since they > are not financially rewarded for them? This may be difficult for you to understand, Christina, but many university researchers work for the public good, without personal profit as a motive. The plant breeders work to develop cultivars that can resist viruses and fungi, or that are more tolerant of heat or salinity, or that are more nutritious. Those are traits that may not be worth spending $50 million to commercialize, but would sure benefit poor dirt farmers who helplessly watch their crops of current cultivars fail. You may wish to speak to the plant breeders at U.C. Davis, who would be more than happy to explain their frustrations to you. -- Randy Oliver Grass Valley, CA www.ScientificBeekeeping.com *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html