What is the justification for genetically engineered foods, aside from the profit-through-secrecy and arm-twisting model that Monsanto has followed to date?
The company and its contemporaries’ automatic answer is often that they are needed to “feed the world,” even though that notion has been proven incorrect in the past and that food distribution is a far bigger problem than production.
Genetically modified organisms are lab-created seeds and crops that have clearly been a boon for biotech companies large and small as well as universities fishing for grant money and a means to distinguish themselves from others as being more “progressive” and “science-focused.”
But the truth is that these crops are a classic case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” as organic, permaculture and biodynamic methods are capable of far outpacing GMOs in terms of production as well as soil health, biodiversity, mineral content, and much more.
If you’re still not convinced that GMOs are unnecessary, the website GMWatch.org has compiled a fantastic list of ’10 Reasons Why We Don’t Need GMO Foods’ on their website here.
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Here is a sampling of their top reasons why starting with the fact that GM crops are virtually impossible to track and capable of contaminating natural crops from miles away:
5. GM and non-GM crops cannot “coexist” GM genes cannot be controlled, contained, or recalled. Once released into the environment, they can persist and proliferate through cross-pollination and selfseeding. In addition, GM crops can be mixed with non-GM crops during harvesting, in storage, or in transport.Cross-contamination and the science-based precautionary principle of not letting these crops into the environment without proper testing is just one major reason why we don’t need GMOs.
And important another reason from the list, which notes there are far better ways to feed the world and that a huge percentage of these GMOs are actually being used largely for animal feed and biofuels and not feeding the population as Monsanto says they are:
7. There are better ways to feed the world The notion that GM crops are needed to feed the world’s growing population is repeated everywhere. But it is difficult to see how GM can contribute to solving world hunger when GM crops do not have higher intrinsic yields (see point 1, above). Nor are there any GM crops that are better than non-GM crops at tolerating poor soils or challenging climate conditions.
This is because, like high yield, tolerance to poor soils and extremes of weather are complex genetic traits involving many genes working together in ways that are not fully understood. Complex traits such as these cannot be genetically engineered into a crop.
Virtually all of the currently available GM crops are engineered for herbicide tolerance or to contain a pesticide, or both.3
The two major GM crops, soy and maize, mostly go into animal feed for intensive livestock operations, biofuels to power cars, and processed human food – products for wealthy nations that have nothing to do with meeting the basic food needs of the poor and hungry. GM corporations are answerable to their shareholders and are interested in profitable commodity markets, not in feeding the world.
A major UN/World Bank-sponsored report on the future of agriculture compiled by 400 scientists and endorsed by 58 countries did not endorse GM crops as a solution to the challenges of poverty, hunger, and climate change, noting “variable” yields, safety concerns, and restrictive patents on seeds that could undermine food security in poorer countries. Instead the report called for a shift to “agroecological” methods of farming.100What do you think is the biggest reason why we don’t need GMOs? Also, please share this post with anyone you feel needs to be educated on the issue, including Congresspeople, friends and family.
