The Beet Generation

Genetically modified sugar beets expected to be in widespread use in U.S. soon

Posted at 8:06 AM on 28 Nov 2007

The U.S. sweetener industry may soon have a new sugar daddy as it gears up for the widespread rollout of genetically modified sugar beets. GM sugar beets have been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture since 2005, but resistance from end-users such as chocolatiers Hershey's and Mars had disrupted their widespread use. But now with that resistance largely overcome, the sweetener industry is gearing up for a quiet rollout of sugar produced from Monsanto's herbicide-resistant sugar beets. Much of the 1.3 million acres of sugar beets produced in the U.S. each year are expected to go over to the GM side as early as next season. "Basically, we have not run into resistance," said David Berg, president of American Crystal Sugar, the U.S.'s largest sugar beet processor. "We really think that consumer attitudes have come to accept food from biotechnology." Besides, it's not like sweeteners are widely used in the food supply or anything.

source: The New York Times

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Comments: (2 comments)

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You really think so?

How exactly can consumers "accept" genetically-modified food, if it isn't labeled? A lot of people have no idea they're eating it. But if they really think so...

by zumodemango at 2:47 PM on 29 Nov 2007

Why not?

These sugar beets have the RoundUp Ready gene. Basically, this gene allows the plant to metabolize glycophosphate, so the farmer can use the herbicide to control weeds that might negatively affect the crop, while leaving the crop itself unaffected.

While RoundUp isn't perfect, it is one of the least toxic herbicides out there. The alternatives to RoundUp are more harmful herbicides or expensive and labor intensive manual weed removal.

In the case of sugar beets specifically, everything but sugar is removed during processing. This includes DNA, proteins, and everything else. On the molecular level, there is no difference between sugar from organically grown sugar beets and sugar beets grown with huge amounts of scary chemicals.

Does that mean we should use scary chemicals? Of course not. But we should use the methods that maximize productivity with the least negative effects on the environment. Monsanto is simply providing that method.

For more scientific discussion on GMOs, visit my blog: GeneticMaize.

For more scientific discussion on GMOs, visit my blog: GeneticMaize.

by Anastasia at 2:16 PM on 15 Dec 2007

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