Today, I got the chance to witness some good talks as part of this conference I am attending. Since it is about environmental management and sustainability, one of the topics is about food security, specifically on rice production of the world.
Though Philippines is known to have an advanced knowledge in rice industry including the presence of an international institute specializing on rice, IRRI, we are also known as a rice importer rather than an exporter.
I have learned that improving the production is one of the issues to be addressed. During the Green Revolution, the rice variety called IR8 was known in the Philippines as the Miracle rice because its production per hectare is triple than the native varieties. The speaker also mentioned that the same rice is called "Honda Rice" in Vietnam because after one harvest, farmers were able to buy their own motorcycles! Quite promising, isn't it.
Eventually, he discussed on the pressing issue about ever increasing demand for rice and currently, as a scientist, they are doing their best to look for varieties that can produce more and resilient to climate change and even pests. This means exploring the genetic materials of different varieties and experimenting on these "best characters" to create a new rice variety.
Of course, this is important for the point of view of many scientist (yes, I am not referring to all of them) but it quite bothered me. The growing population? The demand? No. I am worried with the experiments on making new rice varieties.
I know not everyone may take my side but personally, I do not support this type of intervention. This goes the same with GMOs which currently feeds the world 😕
Many claim that GMOs will save people from hunger, and that these varieties bring no harm--but you will never know. We might not see it now, but in the near future, we might fall on our own trap! New varieties and new strains may have unknown characteristics which could only be observed after every new element is placed together, following the systems theory. It can also attract new pests that we never thought of. Its effect on our body? We can't tell if one day these GMOs will eventually alter our systems as well.
Let me share you where I'm coming from. Our preacher always tells us about satisfaction and being appreciable on God's works. He created the heavens and the earth, the plants and the animals, and human. Everything was fine and perfect, the world suited to give the nourishment that man needs.
But why is there food insecurity? Maybe we should rethink about our consumption patterns. Climate change affecting agriculture? Then why are we emitting so much GHGs? Lack of resource equity? Why not revisit affluence, planned obsolence and even political will?
Well, this is just another viewpoint I wanted to share with you guys... It can run counter with what you believe in as well but just wanted you to ponder upon these thoughts of mine.
Sorry for the rants. I was really immersed in emotions if it touches things that I strongly believe at 💓
That's all for today. Got to be early for tomorrow's presentation. Toodles!
Hugs,
Nickz
Oh, by the way I got another video call from my husband and daughter early this afternoon. Aaaw... I really missed them a lot right now. 💓
Also, if you are interested on the screenshot of the bible app with parallel reading of two different versions at the same time, that's Omega DigiBible. It is a cool app avaolable at apple store and google play, and it's for FREE so please do download your copy for easy and on the go copy of the Bible 💓
