Interesting article about -icides relevant - if tangentially - to present course of discourse:
http://www.timesleader.com/news/Weed_killer_is_losing_ground_06-27-2010.html -----Original Message----- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Wayne Tyson Sent: Monday, June 28, 2010 9:40 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Physiology Productivity Promises and BS Re: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology Monsanto's claims, as quoted by Cherubini, seem like "Green Revolution" all over again to me. In the corn example, it would seem that a reduction in "ear" production would be a disadvantage. Shifts in emphasis from leaves and stems to seed or fruit production might be more related to culture than genetics, but that has historically played a role in crop plant production. I have no guidelines; I am interested in Monsanto's. However, for the moment I'll settle for a ratio of total biomass to water, and whether or not the doubling claim is pure fantasy or if there is solid evidence or theoretical foundation behind it. WT ----- Original Message ----- From: "malcolm McCallum" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, June 27, 2010 4:36 PM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Physiology Productivity Promises and BS Re: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology I am not sure if this fits your guidelines, but please let me know! Plant breeding of corn species that did not devote energy to tassel production and instead shiftking those resources to corn might be close. Only problem was that the resistance to Southern Corn Blight was linked in some way to producting tassels and ears! So, the disease ravaged the US corn crop when the weather was right and the strains were abandoned. At least that is my recollection! Malcolm On Sun, Jun 27, 2010 at 3:17 PM, Wayne Tyson <[email protected]> wrote: > Please supply evidence that genetic engineering or any other method > can double the productivity of any species without increasing the > amount of water and nutrients, including a cogent explanation of just > how this is done. > > WT > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Cherubini" > <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 1:24 PM > Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag > ecology > > > I would say the big biotech companies are the world's leading > authorities with regard to the issue of how we can feed the world in > the coming decades. > > Example: > http://www.monsanto.com/responsibility/sustainable-ag/default.asp > > Excerpts: > > "By 2050, say United Nations' experts, our planet must double food > production to feed an anticipated population of 9.3 billion people." > > "By 2030, Monsanto commits to help farmers produce more and conserve > more by: Developing improved seeds that help farmers double yields > from 2000 levels for corn, soybeans, cotton, and spring-planted > canola, with a $10 million grant pledged to improve wheat and rice > yields." > > Paul Cherubini > El Dorado, Calif. > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > ---------- > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.439 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2966 - Release Date: > 06/27/10 06:35:00 > -- Malcolm L. McCallum Managing Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.439 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2966 - Release Date: 06/27/10 06:35:00
