The Nation: Let rationality decide GMO debate

Editorial

The Nation


The Agriculture Ministry has said it would, at a later date, submit a proposal to the Surayud Cabinet to lift the ban on field trials of genetically modified organisms (GMO), which has been in force for the past six years. The ministry, which was earlier scheduled to table the proposal at yesterday's Cabinet meeting, withheld it without giving a reason why. Officials at the ministry insisted that Thailand, one of the world's major food producers, must restart field tests of genetically modified crops to keep up with advances in global research and to maintain the country's competitiveness.

Continued


As usual, The Nation is on the wrong side of the debate.

Right now I am in the US. I would say that the trend is moving away from genetically modified foods and towards organic. The organic food movement is strong here.

In terms of competitive advantage, I think that moving towards organic farming would be in the best interests of Thailand. After all, would you want Thai scientists genetically modifying your food? I certainly don't.

Unfortunately, many of the faux-intellectual types, like the ones at The Nation, think genetically altered foods would benefit Thailand.

I don't think so.

The better marketing strategy would be for Thailand to announce that it is free from genetically modified farming, then market itself as the organic food market of the world, with public policy supporting that direction.

Thailand should not follow, as The Nation suggests, the genetically modified food market trend just because other countries are doing it. Where is the comparative advantage in that?

Quite frankly, I thought of getting skills in organic farming from the US, and bring that tech to Thailand, because I see a lot of long-term potential in organic farming. Plus, Thai farmers should be looking towards getting a premium price for their products rather than racing towards the bottom to chase China and other low cost producers. Right now, the US is rejecting Chinese farm products because of safety issues.

Thailand should embrace organic and embrace safety instead of going the cheap and easy route that it always does.