The Speculist

Well, partially. The New Scientist headline was "Coffee trial survives insects, but not vandals." What a negative way to look at this story! It's old news that the genetically modified coffee experiment was vandalized - that happened last August.

The real news is that the researchers involved in the program were able to salvage some data. Enough data to show that the genetic modification worked. 70% of the coffee plants were completely insect resistant.

The vandals who destroyed this crop only succeeded in preventing the scientists from proving that this resistance would improve coffee yields. Frankly, that seems a safe bet.

The vandals rationalized their actions by saying that small coffee growers would be driven out of business by larger growers if only larger growers could afford this technology. One wonders if they attack farm implement retailers on the same theory. "Juan Valdez can't afford this tractor!"

Technology that reduces dependency on pesticides is an absolute good. It's good for the environment, the consumers, and the growers - small or large. Small growers buy pesticides too.