{"id":8041,"date":"2013-07-25T02:31:39","date_gmt":"2013-07-25T07:31:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/news\/?p=8041"},"modified":"2015-11-12T08:20:48","modified_gmt":"2015-11-12T14:20:48","slug":"book-explores-the-dark-side-of-biotech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/news\/book-explores-the-dark-side-of-biotech\/","title":{"rendered":"Book explores the dark side of biotech"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Corn is among the crops that can be genetically engineered to increase yields and resist weeds. (Photo by Troye Fox<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Biotechnology has held out the promise of a brave new world in agriculture \u2013 genetically engineered seeds that provide bountiful crops while keeping the weeds at bay.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>That\u2019s the vision government agencies and agriculture corporations are promoting, but using these seeds raises many ecological, ethical, political, economic and, potentially, human health issues that haven\u2019t been openly and thoroughly discussed.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the view of Wilhelm Peekhaus, assistant professor of information studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His newly published book, \u201cResistance is Fertile: Canadian Struggles on the BioCommons,\u201d explores agricultural biotechnology in Canada, and the opposition that is seeking to better control it.<\/p>\n

Soybeans, corn and canola may seem a strange topic for a researcher in information studies, but the reality, he says, is that the political economy of genetically altered seeds and organisms encompasses a wide range of information and communication issues. And, increasingly, issues over the widespread use of biotechnology are being waged via the Internet and through social media.<\/p>\n

While people have been manipulating food since they learned how to ferment yeast to make bread and beer, the ability to manipulate basic DNA has added new issues and complexities, says Peekhaus.<\/p>\n

Canada has long been striving to become a leader in biotechnology, according to Peekhaus. More than 70 percent of the processed foods on the market in that country now include genetically engineered ingredients. While his book focuses on Canada because that\u2019s where he started his research, many of the issues are equally relevant in the U.S., he says.<\/p>\n

The book analyzes a number of issues:<\/p>\n