To give thanks is to glorify God who created the land and its produce, to God who saw that it was "good" (Gen 1: 12) and entrusted it to man for wise and industrious safekeeping.

Last week we discussed the benefits of science and technology and its role in fulfilling God’s purpose for human beings. Today we look specifically at its role in the environment and agriculture. We must keep at the forefront of our minds that science and technology are significant expressions of man's dominion over creation.

“The Church appreciates ‘the advantages that result — and can still result — from the study and applications of molecular biology, supplemented by other disciplines such as genetics and its technological application in agriculture and industry’.

In fact, technology ‘could be a priceless tool in solving many serious problems, in the first place those of hunger and disease, through the production of more advanced and vigorous strains of plants, and through the production of valuable medicines’.”

Scientists, in addition to seeking to combat hunger, poverty and disease through the use of technology also have responsibility for protecting the rest of creation from all possible harms that may ensue.

In fact, concerns have already been raised that certain experiments and marketing strategies may have detrimental effects on different areas of human existence, such as health and safety, environment and biodiversity, culture, consumers’ rights, and proper distribution of food and earnings.

Therefore there is a need when using technology to keep to the fore the concept of proper application. This is because we “know that this potential is not neutral: it can be used either for man's progress or for his degradation.”

For this reason, “it is necessary to maintain an attitude of prudence and attentively sift out the nature, end and means of the various forms of applied technology”. Scientists, therefore, must “truly use their research and technical skill in the service of humanity”, being able to subordinate them “to moral principles and values, which respect and realise in its fullness the dignity of man.”

We must also remember that the earth belongs to God. It must therefore be treated according to his law. If, with regard to natural resources, especially under the pressure of industrialisation, an irresponsible culture of "dominion" has been reinforced with devastating ecological consequences, this certainly does not correspond to God's plan.

"Fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air" (Gen 1: 28). We must use the earth not abuse it. Human beings therefore are not to act alone regarding decisions about the earth’s resources; they are to act as God’s co-worker. They must also respect the natural and moral structure.

What this therefore means is that in agricultural production, whenever there is a question of its advance through the application of biotechnologies, which cannot be evaluated solely on the basis of immediate economic interests, there must be rigorous scientific and ethical examination to prevent them from becoming disastrous for human health and the future of the earth.  Agricultural scientists are therefore encouraged to move forward with the technology but with adequate safeguards.

The Catholic Church is not against the use of Biotechnology in Agriculture but simply advocates prudence and regulation.

Persons interested in purchasing the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, can contact the Justice Desk, Archbishop’s House – 622-6680. Also on sale at the Justice Desk are the Take a Bite Social Justice Programme on DVD and Responses to 101 Questions on Catholic Social Teaching.