Environment Paper

RUNNING HEAD: GMOS AND THE WORLD TODAY 1

GMOS AND THE WORLD TODAY 3

Genetically modified food controversies are disputes over the use of foods and other goods derived from genetically modified crops instead of conventional crops, and other uses of genetic engineering in food production. The key areas of controversy related to genetically modified food (GM food or GMO food) are whether such food should be labeled, the role of government regulators, the objectivity of scientific research and publication, the effect of genetically modified crops on health and the environment, the effect on pesticide resistance, the impact of such crops for farmers, and the role of the crops in feeding the world population. In addition, products derived from GMO organisms play a role in the production of ethanol fuels and pharmaceuticals.

I am fully in favor of mandatory GMO food labeling so that we all have the right to make an informed decision as to whether we want to ingest GMO foods or not. As an example, let's look at aspartame. There is a lot of controversy surrounding this sugar substitute and it has been linked to serious brain disorders. The law requires that it be labeled as it is an ingredient. I want to know if that product on the shelf contains aspartame or not. By the same token, I want to know if that product on the shelf contains GM product or now so that I have the choice of consuming it or not.

Cumulative effects of products such as GMOs are important to take into consideration. Evidence suggests that small genetic changes in plants may produce even larger ecological shifts, meaning that there is potential for GMO´s to become persistent and weedy in agricultural conditions, since they are modified to be resistant to some modern agricultural techniques. This can also mean being invasive in natural settings, where GMOs, of course, do not occur naturally. It is not impossible for new, human modified, plants to become invasive species in delicate, natural ecosystems.

Toxicity is a huge issue surrounding chemical pesticides and herbicides, used commonly with GMOs, in addition to the toxicity inherent to these plants. GMOs may be toxic to non-target organisms, bees and butterflies being the most talked-about examples currently. Bees are hugely important in the pollination of many food crops, but are unfortunately extremely endangered by modern agricultural techniques, such as GM crops. Monarch butterflies are specifically at risk from GMO maize plants. In addition to bees and butterflies, birds are also at risk from pesticides, and work as biological control agents and pollinators, again, like bees.

I am in favor of the promise of GMO products as long as they are required to A) have the seeds submitted via an impartial intermediary to at least three anonymous and independent laboratories for independent testing to verify the safety of the product, B) They are not modified to allow for herbicidal/pesticidal spraying as the current GM crops are absorbing some of these dangerous herbicides and pesticides that we are consuming and C) a 5 year and 10 year crop study be required to determine the long-term effects on the land.

References

Lallanilla, Mark (January 11, 2016) GMOs: Facts About Genetically Modified Foods, Retrieved from: https://www.livescience.com/40895-gmo-facts.html