25 March 2012
Genetically engineering 2,4-D resistant seeds?
Dow is looking to manufacture a 2,4-D resistant seed to enable farmers to use the chemical to kill weeds that have developed resistance to other chemicals. Since the 1980's, farmers have been using Roundup to rid their lands of the weeds that strangle their crops, but Roundup-resistant weeds have become more and more common, necessitating development of new herbicides. A genetically engineered seed resistant to 2,4-D would enable farmers to use the chemical over their land to kill weeds while their crops remained unharmed. Controversy is stemming from the fact that this chemical was one of the ingredients in Agent Orange, the chemical used in Vietnam that resulted in numerous diseases and defects. Proponents argue that the harmful product of Agent Orange, the dioxins, will not be produced without the second half of Agent Orange.
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