When Things Go Wrong—Balancing Technology’s Safety and Risk

摘要: This chapter concerns possible undesirable consequences of research in the agricultural field. It is compelling case herbicides. The cited advantages herbicides include: low cost, safety, high efficacy, labor saving, selectivity (weeds killed and crops not affected), persistence (weed control over time), energy efficiency, profitable to growers, increased crop yield. Each these was regarded as a good thing. only with passage time that questions were raised about each presumed advantages. None clear advantage because can also be flamed disadvantage. Weed scientists learned valid counter arguments could made for every claimed advantage. Undesirable possible, they common. There harm nontarget species, residues are present soil water, cost weed users often decreased, but environmental costs commonly externalized. Advantages, while real, nearly always short-term benefit this year's profit. Disadvantages, always, reflected long-term view. They tend shift focus from self-interest general welfare. A view demands planning horizon, an order magnitude beyond next election or two-year project. questioning dominant whatever problems technology creates will solved by new technology.