Dr. Danforth's piece went on to suggest that erosion is an even more immediate concern for agriculture. Worldwide, the annual loss of topsoil is equivalent to ALL of it in Missouri. Danforth and Beachy suggest a solution. Fellows in research at the Missouri Botanical Garden say the solution will work. We've pursued this end since discovering that cultivating the grasses with the largest seeds meant we could eat better than relying exclusively on hunting and gathering.
Genetic modifications can add nutrition.
For instance, a new strain of rice holds the promise of reducing blindness among children in Third World economies by improving the absorption of Vitamin A. Genetic modifications can make plants resistant to pests, thus reducing dependence on chemical applications. Beachy grants that step one on the way to market should be, and is, to question our new technology. Scientists do that best by using scientific principles and sharing their results with the public. To that end, and to add insight, the RCGA asked Battelle Memorial Institute, the world's largest non-profit research and development organization, to help area leaders generate a regional strategic plan. Plosila expects that a working technology partnership will link universities, private business and government.