CON Loss of Biodiversity – Argument: Genetically modified cause the rapid erosion of plant varieties from farmers’ fields all over the world, varieties that have been developed over hundreds and thousands of years and are now forever extinct. Warrant: Genetic diversity has been decreasing significantly in recent as farmers choose only the highest yielding species of crops. is Happening to Biodiversity?” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United “What Nations. Web. Oct 7 2014. t> the 1900s, some 75 percent of plant genetic diversity has been lost as farmers “Since worldwide have left their multiple local varieties and landraces for genetically uniform, high-yielding varieties. 30 percent of livestock breeds are at risk of extinction; six breeds are lost each month. Today, 75 percent of the world’s food is generated from only 12 plants and five animal species. Of the 4 percent of the 250 000 to 300 000 known edible plant species, only 150 to 200 are used by humans. Only three - rice, maize and wheat - contribute nearly 60 percent of calories and proteins obtained by humans from plants.” Warrant: The pesticide resistant genetically modified crops discourage the use of pest management methods that benefit biodiversity. Garcia, Maria Alice. Crops: Implications for Biodiversity and Sustainable “Transgenic Agriculture.” Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, Vol. 25, No. 4, August 2005. t> crops available so far encourage agricultural intensification, and as long as the “GM use of these crops follows closely the high-input, pesticide paradigm, such
CON – Loss of Biodiversity Argument: Genetically modified cause the rapid erosion of plant varieties from farmers’ fields all over the world, varieties that have been developed over hundreds and thousands of years and are now forever extinct. Warrant: Genetic diversity has been decreasing significantly in recent as farmers choose only the highest yielding species of crops. “What is Happening to Biodiversity?” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Web. Oct 7 2014. t> “Since the 1900s, some 75 percent of plant genetic diversity has been lost as farmers worldwide have left their multiple local varieties and landraces for genetically uniform, high-yielding varieties. 30 percent of livestock breeds are at risk of extinction; six breeds are lost each month. Today, 75 percent of the world’s food is generated from only 12 plants and five animal species. Of the 4 percent of the 250 000 to 300 000 known edible plant species, only 150 to 200 are used by humans. Only three - rice, maize and wheat - contribute nearly 60 percent of calories and proteins obtained by humans from plants.” Warrant: The pesticide resistant genetically modified crops discourage the use of pest management methods that benefit biodiversity. Garcia, Maria Alice. “Transgenic Crops: Implications for Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture.” Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, Vol. 25, No. 4, August 2005. t> “GM crops available so far encourage agricultural intensification, and as long as the use of these crops follows closely the high-input, pesticide paradigm, such
nov2014pf.docx