OMG GMOs

A genetically modified organism, or GMO,  is when the DNA of a another species are extracted and artificially implanted into an unrelated plant or animal through a laboratory process. Just to set the record straight one more time, GMO’s are not something that occur naturally, they are man made. There are some controversies and arguments from sides that either support the use of them and those who don’t. Today, I will be giving you information from both sides, along with some of my personal thoughts, so that you can make your own educated opinion on the topic.

First, let’s start with the people who are pro-GMOs. If you enjoy extra shiny, extra crispy fruits and veggies 100 percent of the time, you can thank GMOs. Manufacturers use genetic modification to make foods look and taste more desirable. For example, they make certain types of apples that take longer to brown when cut or bruised.

Scientists in labs take specific traits from certain plants, traits that some plants naturally have the special ability to fight off disease or grow in certain weather conditions, and add them to the DNA of the food that customers will be consuming. For example, plants like papaya and squash have had genes introduced to them that make them resistant to certain viruses. Those who are pro-GMO argue that this process could aid in providing enough food for third world countries. With GMO drought-resistant crops, salt-resistant crop and crops that are more vitamin filled, farmers will be able to have more successful yields in countries without the same technological access as the United States.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are the people who believe there isn’t enough known behind the effects of consuming GMO to completely trust the modified foods (this is where I currently stand.) In an article explaining the reasons to avoid GMOs, the Non-GMO Project, a non-profit organization who focuses on providing more information on the realities of GMO’s, states that there is a danger of placing genetically engineered plants into the environment because of the risk of turning them into weeds.

For example, there was a recently approved trial where modified eucalyptus trees with kudzu, a plant brought to the U.S with the intentions of preventing soil erosion, became a pest throughout southern U.S. states. The other danger with using genetically modified seeds is that instead of minimizing the use of pesticides, which is the intended purpose, it actually has made plants resistant to pesticides which in end, causes farmers to use even more pesticides. Since GMOs were introduced, farmers have added 318 million more pounds of pesticides than when farming in the absence of modified seeds.

Now that you have facts from both sides of the spectrum, you can form your own educated opinion on the topic…. just make sure to choose the right choice.