IS IT REALLY SAFE TO CONSUME GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS INSTEAD OF CONSUMING NATURALLY GROWN FOODS?

   GMOs, short form for genetically modified organisms, are subject to a lot of controversies. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), GMO seeds are used to plant over 90% of all maize (corn), cotton, and soy grown in the United States, which means that many of the foods you eat likely contain GMOs. Although most notable organizations and research suggest that GMO foods are safe and sustainable, some people claim they may harm your health and the environment. This article helps explain what GMOs are, provides a balanced explanation of their pros and cons, and gives guidance on how to identify GMO foods. GMO foods are easier and less costly for farmers to grow, which makes them cheaper for the consumer. GMO techniques may also enhance foods’ nutrients, flavor, and appearance.

    However, it is literally like playing god and manipulating nature which is like carrying out some random dangerous experiments with nature. Genetically-engineered crops are just said to be as safe to eat as their non-GE counterparts, they have no adverse environmental impacts, and they have reduced the use of pesticides. That’s according to a comprehensive report released by the National Academy of Sciences today—a group founded by the U.S. Congress to provide expert scientifically-based advice on a wide variety of issues. But the academy also found that GE or (genetically-modified organisms or GMO) crops didn’t increase those crops’ potential yields, and they did lead to widespread and expensive problems with herbicide-resistant weeds. The report acknowledges that beyond safety, other issues need to be addressed, including earning the public’s trust. It recommends a more transparent and inclusive conversation about GE crops going forward. The main concerns around GMOs involve allergies, cancer, and environmental issues — all of which may affect the consumer. While current research suggests few risks, more long-term research is needed.

• With the advancements in Biotechnology, Genetically engineered GE crops are safe to eat. There is always uncertainty about safety, of course, but there’s no evidence of harm. 

• The GE crops in our food system don’t improve on the crops’ potential yields. They have, however, helped farmers protect yields from insects and weeds.

• Both herbicide-tolerant crops and crops with the organic pesticide Bt built-in have decreased pesticide use, although those decreases came early on, and some have not been sustained. Increased use of glyphosate, the herbicide GE crops tolerate, has been responsible for a widespread and expensive problem of glyphosate-resistant weeds. The report found no adverse effects on biodiversity or danger from interbreeding between GE crops and wild relatives. 

• Although both the use of GE crops and the employment of farming techniques that reduce tilling have been on the rise, the report finds no cause-and-effect relationship. 

• The economic benefits to farmers have been well-documented, although individual results vary. Small-scale farmers may have trouble seeing those economic gains because of the price of seed and lack of access to credit. 

• Appropriate regulation is imperative, and that regulation should be based on the characteristics of the crop, rather than the technique used to develop it, whether GE or non-GE.Ongoing public conversations about GE crops and related issues should be characterized by transparency and public participation.

     So, what do you think about the benefits and disadvantages of genetically modified food? Please provide any suggestions and comments below!