Fungi offer non-GM way to enhance food crops -- but not if we require long term animal testing to prove they are safe

IRIN photo http://www.irinnews.org/Photo/Details/201205151222210806/Maize-seed-For-generic-use

JOHANNESBURG, 7 November 2012 (IRIN) - As temperatures soar and droughts increase in frequency, scientists around the world are working to create food crops tolerant of extreme temperatures - often an expensive and laborious process. But a cheaper and quicker alternative could be in sight, new research suggests.

Fungi and other microbes could enable food crops like maize, wheat and rice to grow in high temperatures and salty soils, and even withstand erratic rainfall, say microbiologists, who have begun to look at the relationship between plants and micro-organisms for clues to their mutual survival through thousands of years of climate change.

Making food crops tolerant to climatic stresses could be as simple as coating seeds with micro-organisms that can confer desired traits...

IRIN Global | CLIMATE CHANGE: Fungi offer non-GM way to enhance food crops | Global | Environment | Food Security | Health & Nutrition | Natural Disasters | Sahel Crisis:

Pundit: There's claims this great idea is a fast path forward, but no discussion of the risks. It is indeed a great new idea, unless it's penalised the completely predictable adverse consequences of demands for a plethora of precaution and years of delay to make sure there are no long term unexpected adverse consequences