This is something I just discovered and wondering what everyone here thinks…
These are currently commercially available. I actually found out about it through an advertisement from a local wholesale nursery I follow on linkedin.
Personally I think it is neat, but also super creepy in so many ways.
I looked over the website and they use a lot of wording like “natural”, “organic”, “safe”, etc. while seeming to avoid any mention of genetic modification and/or whatever methods they used to create these.
Some thoughts I had:
-Are we going to see future negative effects from allowing these plants to be grown? How does this affect insects? What happens when this breaks down in the soil?
-Will we be seeing this type of thing used in non-ornamental plants? Edible plants?
-Are there any positive uses or benefits?
I said I think it’s neat, but to be clear I do not like this.
These are definitely genetically engineered. People have varying attitudes about genetic engineering. My main concerns about it are based on the aspects of systematic corporate domination and (not in this specific case but in the industrial agricultural context) the continually increasing intensity of use of herbicides and pesticides in what is essentially a war against all life forms that aren’t the crop products of the system.
I don’t see organisms that are genetically engineered as “bad,” but the contexts of human systems and motivations that surround GMO’s can arguably lead to maladaptive outcomes. “Negative externalities” is a term we use in economics. Unforeseen consequences is another, more neutral way to frame concerns about GMO’s.
Personally I think that glow in the dark plants are interesting and i wouldn’t condemn anyone for growing them. I think there’s a tobacco plant that glows in the dark, too. If I remember correctly they produce the enzyme luciferin which is the same enzyme that fireflies produce. So I doubt that they are intrinsically dangerous. Whether it’s wise to contribute financially to GMO efforts by buying the product is another question. But realistically if you buy food from grocery stores or chain restaurants you most likely already are buying and consuming GMO products.
I agree I don’t see gmo as immediately bad.
The term “gmo” covers way too large a range of different methods of modification, and also which genetics are being used for what.
I’m not a fan of mixing animal genes into other plants or animals.
What’s weird is in their FAQ’s they say: “Firefly Petunias are shipped exclusively within the USA, as they are not regulated by the USDA as genetically modified plants.”
I think these will be a big hit with botanic gardens and landscape expos.
There will probably be some really cool mass planting displays and they could be nice as hanging baskets or container plants.
I have a feeling they are going to look like bad halloween decoration in most residential landscaping.