Wednesday, December 05, 2012

The American Century is Over


That's a big claim.  I've been expecting and seeing evidence for a long time but it takes time for the straw that breaks the camel's back.  In this case it is not a camel but a goat and a salmon:

R&D Magazine - The Food and Drug Administration in 2010 concluded that Aquabounty's salmon was as safe to eat as the traditional variety. The agency also said that there's little chance that the salmon could escape and breed with wild fish, which could disrupt the fragile relationships between plants and animals in nature. But more than two years later the FDA has not approved the fish, and Aquabounty is running out of money.
...
Aquabounty is the only U.S. company publicly seeking approval for a genetically modified animal that's raised to be eaten by humans. And scientists worry that its experience with the FDA's lengthy review process could discourage other U.S. companies from investing in animal biotechnology, or the science of manipulating animal DNA to produce a desirable trait. That would put the U.S. at a disadvantage at a time when China, India and other foreign governments are pouring millions of dollars each year into the potentially lucrative field that could help reduce food costs and improve food safety.

Already, biotech scientists are changing their plans to avoid getting stuck in FDA-related regulatory limbo. Researchers at the University of California, Davis have transferred an experimental herd of genetically engineered goats that produce protein-enriched milk to Brazil, due to concerns about delays at the FDA. And after investors raised concerns about the slow pace of the FDA's Aquabounty review, Canadian researchers in April pulled their FDA application for a biotech pig that would produce environmentally friendly waste.

-----
Innovation crushed by regulation. It doesn't matter if the delay is prudent. There are places that will use our technology and market before there can be any response.  

11 comments:

Marie Everington said...

Sorry, not on board with you here. Like golden rice, this stuff is generally not tested for bioavailability or compatibility with human gut flora and when it is, the results are poor (no better than supplements). Pigs already produce 'environmentally friendly waste', incidentally. This is pure marketing and hustle, and not beneficial innovation.

Rob Dawg said...

Marie, welcome. I agree that the benefits may be marginal or even detrimental. The point was that the shift of American thinking from results to process has effectively killed innovation. Nearing three years after a determination from the FDA of safe the salmon company is facing bankruptcy with no approval. In the interim I have no doubt our food supply is going to be flooded by the purloined technology regardless of whether the inventory gets approval.

Off topic: Dave Brubeck R.I.P.
"Take Five" Dave. Take five.

Cinco-X said...

Marie Everington said... Sorry, not on board with you here.

Marie,
I'm with ya'...I can't help but think of those truncated 3 month studies on GM corn that "show it's safe" for cattle feed, but when extended to 6 months or a year, problems show up...

Sri said...

Those are impressive mahi mahis. Obviously some modification went on but quite tasty in appearance. Oh yeah, nice green fish, too.

W.C. Varones said...

The American Century has been over for a long time, for reasons involving debt, dependency, entitlement, corruption, and, yes, over-regulation.

But Frankenstein fish ain't on my sympathy list.

Cinco-X said...

Skittles the Unicorn said... Those are impressive mahi mahis. Obviously some modification went on but quite tasty in appearance.

This past sat for days with "2 astute observations" right below that picture...I just had to post something to keep myself from :keyboarding: every time I read it...

Rob Dawg said...

But, but wouldn't you rather swap recipes?

Cinco-X said...

Rob Dawg said... But, but wouldn't you rather swap recipes?

I use a different blog for swapping :squirrel: recipes...

Rob Dawg said...

It's really sad what happened over there. Tom Stone is of the opinion some may be paid disruptors because the commentariat was making too many good arguments against QEn and deficits to infinity and such. Notice also how no one who praises Kruggles is ever touched.

Cinco-X said...

Rob Dawg said...It's really sad what happened over there. Tom Stone is of the opinion some may be paid disruptors because the commentariat was making too many good arguments against QEn and deficits to infinity and such.

I'm not so sure there's any need for them to be paid...I've heard that there are members of Nutroots (aka NetRoots) that volunteer to do this sort of thing as well as constantly making erroneous changes to Wikipedia, etc. as part of a loosely organized liberal propaganda operation...

Rob Dawg said...

There's a case where a scientist and CAGW skeptic is misquoted as supporting global warming in Wonkipedia. He cannot get the misquote deleted because he not an expert or authoritative source.

You need only look at the National City Lines myth to see how some stories will never be told honestly.