The precautionary principle came about in the 1980s when GMO crops were first being introduced to the market. The principle was initially intended to be a temporary measure to make sure that the food products that were being developed could be safely eaten. As time has evolved, this temporary measure has created a system of regulations that is more extensive than any other industry that uses similar technology.
Is the system of the precautionary principle something that the world could use to evaluate GMO crops? Or has this temporary-turned-permanent principle outlived its purpose?
What Are the Pros of the Precautionary Principle?
It has provided protection to the food chain.
‘Whenever new technologies are introduced, there are bound to be unforeseen consequences to using it. Since genetic modifications to food can create spontaneous changes within the food supply, using a system of monitoring that is extensive helps to keep the food supply much safer. It gives the shopping public confidence in what is on grocery store shelves.
It has reduced the chances of abuse.
With GMO crops, there’s virtually nothing that can’t be done with a tweak to the genetics of a plant here or there. Chemicals, animal DNA, or even different vaccines could all become part of the daily food chain. Instead of a focus on profit, there’s a focus on safety and regulations.
It forces GMO crop manufacturers to prove the viability of their product.
Instead of testing new GMO crops on the open market, the precautionary principle forces manufacturers to prove the viability of their products before it can be sold. This means that the seeds and eventual food products that hit store shelves have had several layers of approval.
What Are the Cons of the Precautionary Principle?
It assumes that there is guilt before innocence.
Instead of assuming that the GMO crops are being developed for the good of humanity, the assumption is that the crops are being developed for pure profit. Manufacturers are forced to constantly defend themselves because the assumption is made that they are trying to create something for nefarious purposes.
It reduces the effectiveness of farmland.
In Europe, farmland comes at a premium. It’s a treasured resource because unlike the United States, there aren’t vast land areas that are committed to the growing of food. GMO crops could make a better use of that land, but because of the precautionary principle, that land will never produce what it ultimately could.
It hinders future agriculture innovation.
Through the precautionary principle, GMO crops have become a symbol of what Europeans hate about the technology of modern agriculture. This hatred leads to lower levels of innovation in the industry which could set farming back several decades.
The precautionary principle was put in place to make sure that the foods people eat are healthy and safe. By evaluating the pros and cons of this principle, everyone can determine if it is a valid policy to keep or one that should be scrapped.
