Acres Quote by Jeremy Rifkin
“When we seed millions of acres of land with these plants, what happens to foraging birds, to insects, to microbes, to the other animals, when they come in contact and digest plants that are producing materials ranging from plastics to vaccines to pharmaceutical products?”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Sustainable Biotechnology, 2022
The quote raises ecological concerns about engineered plants that produce synthetic materials, questioning impacts on wildlife and ecosystems.
In simple terms: It worries about how modified plants affect animals and microbes.
Key Takeaway
Consider ecological risks before releasing engineered organisms.
Themes
environment
technology
ethics
ecology
bioengineering
Mood
cautious
thoughtful
concerned
Type
ethical
environmental
scientific
When to use this quote
- agricultural policy
- environmental impact studies
- regulatory frameworks
- public health monitoring
Key Concepts
synthetic biology
ecosystem services
food chain
risk assessment
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards are needed for engineered crops?
- How can we monitor long‑term ecological effects?
A Different Perspective
Potential benefits may outweigh risks if managed responsibly.
![“[Footnote:] Pliny the Elder described a Whale called "Balaena or Whirlpool, which is so long and broad as to take up more in length and breadth than two acres of ground." This brings up again the old question: Are the classics doomed? Our ancestors believed that four years of this sort of…” quote by Will Cuppy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1c1/will-cuppy-7569_acres_footnote-pliny-the-elder-described-a-wha_84284.jpg)
