Kaitlyn Evans

GMOs

        When one thinks of a GMO, they often think of serious health effects or maybe they do not even know what GMOs are in modern day terminology. In recent years, the media has drawn a large attention to GMOs and most of the public eye does not know anything about the subject. Well, a GMO or generically modified organism is an organism whose genes have been modified so that the organism can perform better under a certain environment. The process is simply speeding up natural selection. Something that humans have been doing long before Darwin discovered natural selection (University of Georgia).

        In today’s world, GMOs are used in many crops and are referred to as GM crops. In the U.S., there are eight GM crops commercially grown including cotton, sugar beet, soybean, corn, canola, papaya, alfalfa, and summer squash (Byrne). This poses a question from many consumers that purchase products made from these crops, are GM foods safe to eat? GM crops are tightly regulated by several government bodies and undergo safety testing before being commercialized (Key).  Three U.S. government entities have authority to regulate GM crops, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Food and Drug Administration (Byrne). Foods from GM crops have been consumed by millions of people all over the world for over 15 years, with no reported effects (Key).

        Overall, GMO crops have many advantages. In the developing world, 840 million people are undernourished, surviving on fewer than 2000 calories a day and many do not have a reliable food source (Key).  For example, the Golden Rice Project was started where GMO rice was developed to produce more Vitamin A to prevent deficiency in developing countries. Vitamin A deficiency causes blindness and death to 2 million children each year (Key). The Golden Rice provides 50% of  vitamin A for children (Key).

        In addition, the world’s population is predicted to double over the next 40 years, with over 95% of humans being born in developing countries (Key).  It is estimated that to meet these increased demands, food production must increase by at least 40% with decreasing fertile lands and water resources. GMO technologies are one of several different approaches to combat these problems. GM crops produce a higher yield than non-GM crops and promote efficient land use. Along with higher yields, the price of food decreases.

        In conclusion, next time you see a GMO label on food products at the grocery store think about what it means. It is a proven fact that the United States has the safest food supply in the world. Next time you hear someone say GMOs are bad for your health let them know that studies show no harmful health effect and let them know the advantages of GMOs. With the world population expected to reach 9.7 billion people by 2050 higher crop yields in result of using GMOs are not a bad thing. They add more nutritional value to food at a lower price and in an efficient way. It is common sense to support the production of GM crops.

Resources

Bryne, P. “Genetically Modified (GM) Crops: Techniques and Applications – 0.710.” Colorado   State University Extension,

        http://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/genetically-modified-gm-crops-  techniques-and-applications-0-710/ Accessed 6 Feb. 2017

“Genetically Modified Crops.” Mission 2014,

        http://12.000.scripts.mit.edu/mission2014/genetically-modified-crops Accessed 6 Feb. 2017

Key, Suzie. Ma, Julian. Drake, Pascal. “Genetically modified plants and human health.” US       National Library of Medicine. 1 Jun. 2008,

        https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2408621/

“Selective Breeding or Artificial Selection.” University of Georgia, 24 Nov. 2013,

        http://wallace.genetics.uga.edu/groups/evol3000/wiki/ce8b9/Selective_Breeding_or_A rtificial_Selection.html

“World population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050.” United States Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 29 July 2015,

        http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/population/2015-report.html