I was planning on getting this article out last week, but one, I
want to make sure I get the most relevant and right facts to you all and two, I’ve
been having a lot of discussions lately around GMO’s (including most of
yesterday on a trip to and from Iowa!) and had to include some thoughts I’ve
heard from others!
There is a lot of misinformation floating around out there when it
comes to GMO's. Most of the time, GMO's are seen as the Frankenstein of foods.
However, there are far more positives out there that are not often highlighted.
I want to reiterate that my goal here is not to sway you one way or the other.
Instead, I want to present you with the most relevant thoughts and truthful
facts to help YOU make educated decisions when it comes to the food you and
your family consume. So here you go!
The Pros of GMOs:
1. Increased yields: GM crops have led to significant advances in agriculture both in the United States and around the world. Because GMO’s are created to have higher yield and withstand harsher conditions—think drought resistant corn or tomatoes that can grow in salt water—proponents of GMOs say they will help us feed the extra 2 billion people that will fill the plant by 2050. Keep in mind that much of this population is occurring in underdeveloped nations, which have less productive acreage so the utilization of GMOs have the potential to help farmers create sustainable livings while feeding the growing population.
1. Increased yields: GM crops have led to significant advances in agriculture both in the United States and around the world. Because GMO’s are created to have higher yield and withstand harsher conditions—think drought resistant corn or tomatoes that can grow in salt water—proponents of GMOs say they will help us feed the extra 2 billion people that will fill the plant by 2050. Keep in mind that much of this population is occurring in underdeveloped nations, which have less productive acreage so the utilization of GMOs have the potential to help farmers create sustainable livings while feeding the growing population.
3. Nutrition: It is estimated that 1/3 of the
world’s population is food and nutrition insecure. The International Union of
Nutritional Sciences outline four benefits from GM foods: enhancement of nutrient
and food security, more targeted health benefits, and reduction of diet
related, adult onset chronic diseases. The most dramatic results are seen in
lower income countries where biofortification is necessary to combating malnutrition.
A claim to fame for GMOs that most people have heard of is Golden Rice. In
2000, the first strain of Golden Rice was created to provide beta carotene in
the diets of people, especially children, living in impoverished nations that
often suffer from blindness caused by Vitamin A deficiency. Then in 2005, a new
variety was released which produces up to 23 times more beta carotene. By 2009,
a study was conducted that showed that just one cup of Golden Rice could
provide half of the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin A, a game changer
for nearly 500,000 children a year who go blind from lack of Vitamin A.
4. Renewable Resources: Many crops can be
genetically modified to produce oils, starches, fibers, and proteins to be used
for energy and other industrial purposes. While we’d have to make sure to keep
these crops separate from the food supply, imagine if we could eliminate the
use of petroleum and other non-renewable resources by growing all the energy we
need—that’d be pretty cool, right?
5. Biotech Research: I hadn’t thought much
about this until a friend of mine from high school, Zach, shared with me the
incredible contributions of GMO research in the medical field. Here’s what he
had to say: “As someone who has done plenty of bench work, I understand that
GMOs are also invaluable to medical research. For instance, I studied mutations
in in the BRCA1 gene in E. coli and the insulin taken by diabetics everyday is
made from recombinant DNA that has been spliced into E. coli or yeast. I think
so much goes back to education. People tend to be afraid of, and are easily
swayed, on topics they don’t understand. Educate them on the facts and the
issue goes away. However, this is far easier said than done.” Take a
look at this video that illustrates how genetic modification of bacteria led to
insulin production for human use—pretty cool, huh?
As with anything however, there are
concerns regarding GMOs that I hear day in and day out that I believe are
important to address.
The Cons of GMOs:
1. Pest/disease resistance: There is some
concern that the use of GM crops that utilize biotech traits to be resistant to
certain bugs or diseases that damage crops may allow for adaptation of these
pests and diseases into so called “superbugs.” While no one can say that won’t
happen, chances are it could also happen if we do the alternative, which is
apply chemicals (organic or not) to combat pests and diseases. The ultimate
alternative would be to not take any action against these damages, but then we
wouldn’t have enough food to feed the current population let alone a growing
one!
2. Genetic Drift: This is a huge challenge,
especially when trying to develop a non-GMO and organic supply chain.
Technically called “adventitious presence,” this is essentially when a trait is
spread via pollen in the air from a field planted with GMO crops to a field
that is either organic or non-GMO. Keep in mind this is how plants breed—via pollen—so
there is a chance that a field of non-GMO corn may have a few stalks of GM corn
because of this genetic drift. No big scary concerns here, just the challenges
that come when having to test the corn for this presence, as many a times corn
may be rejected from the Japanese non-GMO market because .9% of the crop
happened to have this trait introduced by accident.
3. Allergic reactions: This is a valid
concern for those who have severe allergies—say for example that a gene from
the almond was used in a tomato variety. This could pose an issue if the gene
used was the origin of an allergen, however, I believe scientists are in tune
with this and there is enough genetic research that they won’t intentionally
add an allergen to a food. What may be more important here is the transparency
of knowing the science behind a GM food you choose to consume. Many people are
also concerned that new allergens could be created. While there is no evidence
of this, I even encourage you to think about the opposite—what is biotechnology
was developed so that the allergen causing gene could be REMOVED from the crop
all together?
4. Not “Natural”/Playing God: This one is an ethical balance beam. We’ve
been crossbreeding plants and animals for centuries, and genetic engineering
could be viewed as just the transfer of this crossbreeding to the lab with more
precise technology. While it may not seem “natural,” you must decide for yourself what your definition of natural is. Many people also say we shouldn’t “play God.”
I don’t think this is fair to say about agriculture when the same could be said
about medicine—from vaccines to pain relievers to cures for cancer to in vitro
fertilization. Humans have evolved and progressed to where we are today because
of technology,innovation, and efficiency.
There is a reason farmers
adapted GM crops and doing away with it may just set us back.
adapted GM crops and doing away with it may just set us back.
5. International Trade: An economic argument I have heard against GMOs is the fact that many foreign countries have strict regulations when it comes to accepting GMO crops, if at all. While the ongoing TPP and T TIP trade talks currently going on work to address these standards and concerns, it is a valid point that by producing an overwhelming majority of GMOs, we are limiting our international trade capability.
I hope this gives you a foundation of understanding when it comes to the issues surrounding GMOs. Next post, I will highlight some crazy myths surrounding GMOs and give you the facts!
As always, feel free to let me know if you agree, disagree, or if I left something out, etc. Your opinions and perspectives matter to me!
As always, feel free to let me know if you agree, disagree, or if I left something out, etc. Your opinions and perspectives matter to me!
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