Degrowth, organic agriculture and GMOs: A reply to Gomiero (2017, JCLEPRO)

This paper is a critical response to Gomiero's (2017, JCLEPRO) analysis of the links between degrowth and agriculture. It is argued that Gomiero's contribution is timely and important, and he makes a number of important points, especially regarding the naivety of some degrowth proposals that amount to romanticising organic agriculture. However, Gomiero's criticism of GM crops, which he contrasts with organic agriculture, is partly outdated and partly misguided. This reply thus presents a different interpretation of the potential of modern green biotechnology, including its possible compatibility with organic agriculture.