Sunscreen: Not just for Grannies and Children!

To preface, the Giant is all for technology and its benefits for the human race. Ignoring it and going "back to the land" and living in a pre-industrial lifestyle will result in massive upheavals of our society and starve probably 4 billion people on this planet. However, there is a limit as to what science should, or should not be able to do. After awhile it becomes less of a benefit and more, science for science sake.

An article posted by CNN today, Sunscreen for crops, is I believe, one of those instances. This article suggests that an SPF 45 spray on crops will help those crops avoid sunburn due to lack of water. The spray, made from engineered calcium carbonate (basically sea-shells) is applied to the crops and that keeps them cooler, increasing yields.

This is all well and good if the situation really warrants it (ie planting in an actual desert). But we aren't at that point yet. Simply growing crops in mixed use polyculture (trees, shrubs, and crops) provides shade for lower crops, retains water, and helps eliminate pests. (the Three Sisters technique) This sunscreen is developed with monoculture farming in mind: endless rows of the same plant, requiring literally tons of chemical fertilizer, millions of gallons of water, and behemoth machines to take care of all of this.

Yes, crops are under threat for climate change, yes once-semi arid land is becoming marginal because of the heat and monoculture practices, yes places like the American Southwest and Australia are under historic droughts. But is this heavy handed "man vs. nature vs. what man has done to nature" really the best way to go? The Aztecs and Teotihuacanos farmed in the desert, and had flourishing societies. Is this the time for designer crops, with designer sunscreen? What's next, products to keep tomatoes form looking too wrinkly? Tummy tucks for pumpkins? Collagen injections for carrots?