Weird science rears its ugly head in Synthetic Genomics:
Synthetic Genomics Inc. was founded to commercialize genomic-driven technologies. Our scientific strength lies in the decades of pioneering research by founders, J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., Nobel Laureate Hamilton O. Smith, M.D., and the leading scientific teams they have assembled.
...The company's scientific capabilities encompass areas such as environmental genomics, microbiology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, plant genomics, genome engineering, synthetic biology, and climate change.
Don't these weirdos know that we are s'posed to rely on sun and wind for sometime power while doing organic agriculture over vast stretches of cleared land? Frankenstein plants could eat the planet. See Al Gore for instructions.
Modern advances in genome sequencing, plant genetics, transgenesis and cultivation of plant-associated microbes are allowing rapid improvements to be made in crops that have seen little enhancement in the past. Using these methods, SGI is developing high-yielding, more disease resistant and economic plant feedstocks that are supplemented with efficient and environmentally friendly microbes to replace chemical fertilizers and confer disease and stress resistance.
They even insist on getting on the bad side of Monsanto.
Improved Plant Feedstocks
Oil Palm and Jatropha - Collaboration with Asiatic Centre for Genome Technology (ACGT)
SGI has a multi-year, research and development collaboration and commercial joint-venture with the Asiatic Centre for Genome Technology (ACGT) focused on the genomic understanding and improvement of oil palm and jatropha, two of the most productive and promising oil-producing crops.
Oil Palm
Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is the highest-yielding oilseed crop in the world. Demand for palm oil has steadily increased over the last two decades. The current palm oil market is approximately 40 million metric tons (almost $20 billion market size), and the 4% predicted annual growth over the next decade may result in palm oil becoming the leading internationally traded edible oil. Malaysia and Indonesia account for about 80% of world palm oil production, and represent the main target markets for SGI and ACGT's improvement efforts. The two companies completed the oil palm genome in May 2008 and are working towards achieving dramatic yield gains through genetic improvement efforts based on marker-assisted breeding.
I concentrated on palm oil because of the hurt palm oil plantations are doing to rainforest. It is both a food crop and energy crop.
I have no comment on the purported ill effects of the former "jungle grease." Diet is not my thing.
In a saner world there would be no palm oil plantations growing energy crops but surely more bountiful crops more capable of resisting environmental challenges as well as predators and disease should be of benefit to the planet.
Best, Terry