Think about this...
1. Whose interests are being most considered when agricultural organizations ban or permit the use of GMOs in their respective countries? Farmers? Consumers?
2. Should voters/the public have a say in whether or not genetically modified crops should be banned or permitted, or should this decision be designated to regulatory organizations?
3. How important is citizen input when it comes to agricultural regulations?
4. The same genetically modified maize used here in the United States, has been deemed unfit for use by the EU and Mexico. Now that you are aware of this information, provide an explanation for how this discrepancy in regulations impacts your thoughts about GMO usage.
5. What accounts for the differences in the responses of countries to biotechnology? Is the United States an innovator, leading the way to technological advancement, while the rest of the world follows grudgingly behind? Or is the country’s role in biotechnology only placing the health and safety of American farmers, consumers, and citizens at risk?
2. Should voters/the public have a say in whether or not genetically modified crops should be banned or permitted, or should this decision be designated to regulatory organizations?
3. How important is citizen input when it comes to agricultural regulations?
4. The same genetically modified maize used here in the United States, has been deemed unfit for use by the EU and Mexico. Now that you are aware of this information, provide an explanation for how this discrepancy in regulations impacts your thoughts about GMO usage.
5. What accounts for the differences in the responses of countries to biotechnology? Is the United States an innovator, leading the way to technological advancement, while the rest of the world follows grudgingly behind? Or is the country’s role in biotechnology only placing the health and safety of American farmers, consumers, and citizens at risk?
6. Political culture has such a huge impact on the decision-making process
surrounding regulations on GMOs. What is the nature of the political culture that oversees such important decisions? For the most part, is it negative or positive?
7. What socio-cultural differences could be influencing
different sentiments towards biotechnology (particularly genetically modified crops and foods)?
8. In countries that ban GMOs because of their risk
factor, do cultural practices surrounding risk taking could also influence the discourse? Does the United States have a culture of risk taking?
surrounding regulations on GMOs. What is the nature of the political culture that oversees such important decisions? For the most part, is it negative or positive?
7. What socio-cultural differences could be influencing
different sentiments towards biotechnology (particularly genetically modified crops and foods)?
8. In countries that ban GMOs because of their risk
factor, do cultural practices surrounding risk taking could also influence the discourse? Does the United States have a culture of risk taking?
9. Patents are intellectual property rights granted by the government to an individual or group that invents something. A biopatent is a patent of a living thing. Scientists who invent new breeds of genetically modified organisms can obtain a patent for those organisms. What role does the fact that genetically modified organisms are usually patented have to do with the regulations surrounding their use? Are biopatents ethical and do ethics contribute to the global discourse?
10. Imagine that you are an influential member of the agricultural regulatory organization in Mexico, and you were aware that in the United States, genetically modified maize was proven
to have “no significant impact” on an individual’s health. How would this information impact your view on the use of the GM food, and how would it impact your decision to allow its use in your native country?
10. Imagine that you are an influential member of the agricultural regulatory organization in Mexico, and you were aware that in the United States, genetically modified maize was proven
to have “no significant impact” on an individual’s health. How would this information impact your view on the use of the GM food, and how would it impact your decision to allow its use in your native country?