30 November 2019

Could GMO Crops Help End Afghanistan Conflict, or Mexican Cartel Terror?

With so much skill built up in genetically modifying crops one must wonder if the Afghanistan conflict with the Taliban that is partially funded by opium producers could be reduced with the introduction of genetically modified opium poppies that had no potential for use in the manufacture of opium ort heroin? The poppy crop may be worth as much as seven billion dollars.

https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/05/1010332

https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2018/May/last-years-record-opium-production-in-afghanistan-threatens-sustainable-development--latest-survey-reveals.html

Theoretically the modified poppies would readily interbreed with existing poppies and render the regular poppies useless for opium production.

 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101104154224.htm

One must wonder if other dope producing plants could not be converted into non-mind altering potential through genetic modification in the field. Governments might invest a modest amount of research funding to potentially reduce problems from terrorist funding via illegal drug production.

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