Shifting schemes of naturalness

P.F. van Haperen; B. Gremmen; J. Jacobs

Shifting schemes of naturalness

In: Global food security: ethical and legal challenges

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P.F. van Haperen

P.F. van Haperen paul.vanhaperen@wur.nl

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B. Gremmen

B. Gremmen bart.gremmen@wur.nl

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J. Jacobs

J. Jacobs josette.jacobs@wur.nl

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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 488–493

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.3920/9789086867103_082

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During the last thirty years, the public debate about modern biotechnology in plant breeding has mainly been concentrated around the possible societal & environmental risks of genetic modification. ‘Naturalness’ became a moral argument that was endlessly repeated in sterile discussions about acceptability. However, the latest developments in genomics and biotechnology are such that the traditional arguments on GM versus classical breeding no longer seem to be appropriate. New applications like cisgenetics, reverse breeding, and the use of oligonucleotides, cannot be categorized in these well-known schemes. A new analysis and understanding of the different societal images around naturalness seems necessary to enable a fruitful future debate. In this paper we discuss four methods of plant breeding in which the concept of naturalness plays an important role, but refers to different schemes that seem to shift with the context in which they are used: (1) Classical breeding. Many consumers consider products to be ‘unnatural’, not only because of their lack of taste but also because they were produced in a highly artificial and industrial way, which has a detrimental impact on the environment. (2) Genetic modification. Here, the cause of ethical concern is the very breeding process of the new cultivars. The GMO products were considered to be unnatural because species borders were crossed in making them. (3) Genomics assisted breeding. Compared to GMO’s this method would be neutral with regard to the problem of species integrity. However, it is considered to be a violation of the ‘natural speed of development’. (4) Organic plant breeding. Organic agriculture presents itself as a more ‘natural’ alternative to both high tech production and genetic modification. However, there are discussions about the boundaries of the organic concept of ‘naturalness’. We conclude with proposing a dynamic model for analysis, based on three value spheres; ecology, culture and technology.

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Global food security: ethical and legal challenges

E-Book ISBN:: 9789086867103

Publisher:: Wageningen Academic

Print Publication Date:: 30 Oct 2010

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- Life Sciences

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Shifting schemes of naturalness

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Global food security: ethical and legal challenges

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