The fight on GMOs has raged on for quite some time now. Both those for and against them have taken a strong stance behind the modern day agriculture trend and, despite the two decades that have passed since the process began, the controversy stills sees no end near.
But what exactly is a GMO?
GMO stands for "genetically modified organism", a result of a more modern agricultural process where crops are being genetically altered for a more desirable outcome. In fact, over 90% of the soy and corn grown in the U.S. today has been genetically modified.
Here's how it works:
Scientist genetically engineer crops by removing a gene from one organism, and inserting it into another. Take corn for an example. Farmers would like a more pest-resistant crop, where they could decrease their use of pesticides and increase their crop yield. To do this, genetic engineers look for a specific bacteria in the soil, called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), that naturally acts as a pesticide. They then isolate the specific gene that makes Bt more pest-resistant, and insert it into the DNA of corn. Farmers can then grow this corn, with it's new DNA, and ultimately harvest it, sending it on it's way. However, much controversy surrounds the idea of GMOs.
On one side of the spectrum, a whole 88% of scientists make a claim to safe and even beneficial food products through the genetically modified process. These scientists say farmers have been using selective breeding to change and improve crops for thousands of years now. Selective breeding consists of choosing only the crops with the best genes to breed. They claim there is very little difference with using GMOs, saying it's only a quicker, more direct process that is now done in a laboratory.
On the contrary, a minority of scientists argue that further research on GMOs is needed, and by more reliable subjects. According to thes
e scientists, over a thousand studies have shown GMO products to be safe, however a multitude of these studies were funded by the companies making the GMO products themselves. Many advocacy groups and concerned citizens also stand on this side of the debate. They question the safety of this sort of food manipulation, and worry it will bring on heath risks such as an increase in allergies. Not only do they question the safety of the public, but the environment, as well. Concerns of creating "superweeds" have surfaced, where farmers would need to increase the chemicals sprayed on their crops just to compensate for the weeds that became resistant to a less harsh weed-killer.
In the fight over genetically modified foods, one of today's biggest problems in agriculture can be forgotten; a rapidly growing population. The discovery of a more efficient way to feed the world is essential, and GMOs have proven to be an adequate solution. GMOs have increased food production greatly, allowing us to create more pest-resistant crops, foods with greater shelf-life, as well as larger yields. However, at what point do the cons outweigh the pros? If our food safety is potentially being compromised, a call for a greater look at how our food is being manipulated is essential.
Where do I stand? Of course, it is very important that we modify closely how we change our food to ensure public safety. However, in order to be concerned about how well we feed people, farmers and genetic engineers must first be concerned about actually feeding them. GMOs have become part of what's made feeding a growing population possible. Ultimately, it's important we trust professionals to do their job with the good of the people in mind and recognize that, until we too become educated on the subject, we must remain entirely openminded.
Sources: <https://classes.soe.ucsc.edu/cmpe080e/Spring05/projects/gmo/benefits.htm>.
