In the battle against genetic modification, the Swiss have determined that their geneticists must “conduct their research without trampling a plant’s dignity”. This WSJ article outlines the mandate, which says that “the dignity of plants could be safeguarded “as long as their independence, i.e., reproductive ability and adaptive ability, are ensured.” In other words: It’s wrong to genetically alter a plant and render it sterile.”
It does sound a bit strange to frame this as plants’ rights, but the efforts to maintain a plants integrity and natural evolutionary progression benefit us all.
