In an interesting reversal on the precautionary principle, Indur Goklany argues that rather than the PP being used to prevent the introduction of GM crops, it should be used to promote the introduction of such crops.
He claims that the assessment of risk is subjective, and different individuals and governments will have differing views of acceptable risks. He points out that in assessing the risks of GM crops, you must also assess the risks of "something else". Something else will be conventional agriculture in the foreseeable future. Goklany states that while there are new risks associated with GM agriculture, there are existing risks with conventional agriculture.
He argues for a framework that will compare and rank the various positive and negative consequences of GM versus conventional agriculture, based on their characteristics, including the degree of certainty. If we are to use the PP, then it should be used to select the one that reduces the overall risks the most.
He concludes that "the PP would require the use of GM crops, provided due caution is exercised. This result contradicts conventional environmental wisdom." The advantages in GM crops is being able to increase quantity and quality of food supplies faster than conventional crops.
Goklany also argues that the greatest threat to biodiversity is not GM crops, but agriculture. Agriculture will need additional land and water to be converted over to agriculture, which would be lessened if GM crops were used.
Although the link below is from a Monsanto website, the original book, "The Precautionary Principle - A Critical Appraisal of Environmental Risk and Assessment" is published by the Cato Institute. The Cato Institute goes under the banner:
The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization — a think tank — dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues. It is understandable that the PP would attract the ire of small government supporters.
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