Overcoming Illusions About Biotechnology
Nicanor Perlas
ZED Books and Third World Network
ISBN: 1 85649-303-2 Hb 1 85649-304-0 Pb
120 pages
14.21.5cm
Others: US$8.00; Third World: US$5.00

Proponents of new biotechnologies claim how wonderful their benefits will be to agriculture and human health. But scientists and citizen groups are also increasingly concerned about the potential costs and adverse effects of these biotechnologies, especially genetic engineering.

This book, by a Filipino scientist and a major practitioner of sustainable agriculture, begins with a general critique of the new agricultural biotechnologies. It then examines in detail the environmental, social, political and ethnical impacts of the new biotechnologies. It concludes with proposals to control the biotechnology revolution and for sustainable agriculture alternatives that need not depend on genetic engineering.

CONTENTS

Preface
Introduction

PART I
Biotechnology: A double-edged sword

Chapter 1 Genetic Engineering: A New Magic Bullet?
Chapter 2 Three Dimensions of Technology

PART II
Biotechnology Revolution in Agriculture: Environment and Resources Impacts

Chapter 3 Effects of Present Intensive Animal Production
Chapter 4 Why Biotechnology Worsens Adverse Effects of Intensive Animal Production
Chapter 5 Biotechnology's Impact on Other Areas of Agriculture

PART III
Biotechnology Revolution in Agriculture: Social, Political and Ethical Impacts

Chapter 6 Social and Political Impacts of Biotechnology in Agriculture
Chapter 7 Ideological and Ethnical Impacts of Biotechnology in Agriculture

PART IV
Controlling the Biotechnology Revolution

Chapter 8 Legal Activism and Grassroots Opposition
Chapter 9 Sustainable Agriculture: An Alternative to Biotechnology
Chapter 10 Transforming Modern Science and Technology: The Second Scientific Revolution
Chapter 11 Conclusion

List of Abbreviations