Editor:
Dr. Martiquet, you are a very brave man. There will be knee-jerk reactions to this column (Coast Reporter, Jan. 31). You state correctly that after three-trillion meals with GMOs no one has been harmed.
Many will argue and say that after that many meals we still aren't convinced and will state the precautionary principle.
As an agriculturist, I would like to add several other benefits - higher crop yields, reduced pesticide use and reduced soil erosion because of lower tillage requirements for GMO crops.
GMOs hold promise that we will be able to feed our population in 2050.
Plant breeding is now a scientific career involving GMOs. No one will slave for a lifetime doing trial and error trying to breed a better potato or other crop when they can do it in a few months with genetic modification.
A. F. (Gus) Butt, Sechelt
