It's amazing that no matter how many improvements humans make there are still people who mistrust science.

For a start... "organic" foods. There is absolutely no scientific evidence (that I've ever seen) which shows that "organic" foods are any safer, or better than other commercially available ingredients. If it were so, why would we put up with anything else? Why did we change things in the first place? Through the wonders of science we have a better yield of crops - we can feed more people. Even before biochemistry got to where it is today, farmers tried to crossbreed various species to create better crops. How is it any different to do it a little more efficiently? Does it smack too much of eugenics (a whole other rant entirely)?

There is this wonderful grain called "Triticale" - it's a hybrid of wheat and rye. It grows faster, yields more, is more resistant to climatic changes as well as insects and disease, and it has a higher protein content than conventional strains. Even the "organic" growers love this stuff, a grain we would never have developed without a scientific approach. There are a number of grains which have been genetically engineered that may prove to be superior to triticale. Time will tell.

NERD FACT: Tribbles love triticale.

I have no problems with genetically engineered beef. In case you haven't noticed there aren't a lot of beef cattle running around in the wilds - the only reason the species exist is that they are tasty to humans. So why is it wrong to improve the yield of beef? We'd kill less cows, and have cheaper meat.

I'm obviously not a vegetarian, I'm willing and able to kill my own food - I've done it, and I have no ethical issues with it, but again - that's another rant.

Many of the improvements have allowed farmers to save money, but it's not like they're rolling in cash. In case you haven't noticed, many farmers have money problems, and it's not like there's a huge excess of food out there. If all farms switched over to organic farming they would be lucky to break even (when you take into account that not only would it potentially cost more, but they would have less to sell). So a few farmers go out of business... less farms = less food = we starve. My garden is not nearly efficient enough to make me willing to allow commercial farms to languish.

It is in the best interest of the consumer for farmers to be productive and stay in business and that means ensuring the most resilient, and highest yield crops possible. The means does justify the end when it comes to this one - genetic manipulation may make the difference.

On the up side. The population is out of control...If we were to use human bodies to fertilise farmland, or even just as a convenient food source we could improve the efficiency of the whole system. What if you have a problem with eating other people? Easily solved... we can use human meat as feed for farm animals. Reduce, reuse, recycle.

Yum yum... today is soylent green day, get in line!

Most arguments against scientific improvement have no reasonable studies to substantiate them and employ the "slippery slope" angle. There are people out there still railing to have "evolution" removed from schools, there are still people who claim that global warming is gonna kill us all, while yet others claim we're entering another ice age.

I'd go out and give you some links to them but I have no journalistic integrity, so you're gonna have to make up your own mind on this one.

There are heaps more examples of how science has improved the world, but there's some great music on the Honey Hellfire show right now and I gotta go shake my booty.

We're all mad here - just don't let it get you down.

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ADDENDUM: Since I wrote this article I have found out a lot more about farming (at least in North America), and damned if it 'aint the strangest thing. Some people get paid not to farm, some people produce way more than necessary, and others have their maximume yield dictated to them by various sanctioning bodies.

In other words, farming is really fucked up.

So I really have mixed feelings about this one. I still like the "eating people" idea, but that might just be because it freaks out the tree-huggers.