It makes me uncomfortable to think about the consequences of this kind of research in our kind of industrialized world.
Just like Bt, if made and used ultra locally then it possibly could be useful without nasty consequences. But through selection for efficacy in this or that and then the widespread use of primarily that species worldwide, we {are creating} (perhaps 'would be' as it hasnt happened yet i guess) the perfect circumstances for a surprise comeback from nature in the form of a resistance/superbug/disease/as yet unimagined something. And thats not talking about any possible effect/imbalance/as yet unforseen side effect it may create in the plant and then us.
All in all it seems like we may be making the same mistakes that are causing us trouble today by applying too fast and on too big a scale research that should be kept isolated and tested till kingdom come before ever thinking about being made commercial. (Research that absolutely should be kept up that being said)
Adapting your seeds to your local climate, using effective microorganisms from healthy soil that you have been nurturing... there are many ways to increase our production and minimize our losses without going the route of industrial biotech. We are on the perfect forum for that.
This technology seems to be thought for our current industrial agriculture which is unsustainable any way you look at it in my opinion.
Is a precautionary approach unnecessary?
I'm up for changing my opinion about the whole thing.
