The Santaniello Theorem of Irreversible Benefits

"Irreversible benefits justify the immediate introduction of transgenic crops, even if future uncertainty about reversible benefits includes negative benefits and traditional cost-benefit analysis, and treating all benefits and costs as reversible would reject the introduction." Justus Wesseler of the Wageningen University, the Netherlands proposes The Santaniello Theorem of Irreversible Benefits in an article published in AgbioForum.

Wesseler names the theorem in honor of Vittorio Santaniello, one of the founding members of The International Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology Research (ICABR). Santiniello was a strong supporter of agricultural biotechnologies and is known for his concern about the social and political issues surrounding the technology. He pointed out that not only should irreversible costs of the GM crop technology be considered, but irreversible benefits as well. 

The full article is available at http://www.agbioforum.missouri.edu/v12n1/v12n1a01-wesseler.htm. A special issue of AgbioForum is dedicated to Vittoria Santaniello. Download the articles at http://www.agbioforum.missouri.edu/