Why are GMOs Considered to be Problematic When They Have So Many Advantages?
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) represent a technological breakthrough with several compelling advantages for agriculture and food production. By introducing targeted genetic changes, GMOs offer the potential to address food shortages by enhancing crop yields, thus alleviating food scarcity as the world’s population grows. Furthermore, genetic modifications can improve the nutritional content of crops, contributing to healthier diets and reducing malnutrition. They also have the capacity to reduce chemical use, as certain GMOs are engineered to be resistant to pests and diseases, thereby decreasing the need for chemical pesticides and promoting environmentally friendly farming practices. So why are GMO’s often looked upon negatively within popular culture?
In this story, I would like to examine the negatives of GMO’s and what the potential consequences are so that all of us can be more informed about the advantages and consequences of consuming something that is a product of a GMO crop.
Monopolies and Cross Contamination
GMOs can lead to monopolies because a few large biotech companies own a significant portion of the global commercial seed supply. For example, Monsanto, DuPont, and Syngenta own 53% of the global commercial seed supply. This corporate control has led to a dramatic rise in seed prices, putting a huge strain on farmers.
Cross-contamination can occur when GMO and non-GMO crops coexist side-by-side. Due to cross-pollination from insects, wind, and farmer error, some non-GMO and organic crops are being contaminated with GMOs. Such contamination can be a disaster for farmers, especially those who need to meet minimum standards to sell their products abroad or to Non-GMO Project certified sources. In addition, with copyright protection, farmers that have crops which have been cross contaminated will need to deal with the ugly legal ramifications. Cross-contamination does threaten the integrity of organic foods and as more buyers start requiring a minimum threshold for GMOs, the results could be disastrous for organic farmers as well as farmers that do not use GMO crops.
Environmental Impact, Loss of Diversity, Food Security, and Potential for Famine
I imagine it is surprising to see that environmental impact which is one of the advantages of GMOs can also be the reason to not use them.
GMOs can have a negative environmental impact in several ways. One concern is the risk of outcrossing, where genes from GMO foods pass into wild plants and other crops. This can lead to a reduction in other plant types, leading to a loss of biodiversity. Another concern is the potential for a negative impact on insects and other species.
GMOs can also lead to a loss of diversity. Genetic diversity is crucial for adapting to new environments, as more variation in genes leads to more individuals of a population having favorable traits to withstand harsh conditions⁵. Low genetic diversity, on the other hand, can be very problematic during changing environments, as all individuals will react similarly. It is assumed that genetically engineered modifications may affect the genetic diversity of a population through crossbreeding or uncontrolled growth; therefore, many researchers are investigating whether this is true and how it might be prevented.
GMOs have the potential to contribute to food security by increasing food production and availability. However, there are concerns about the risks associated with GMOs. For example, GM seeds are produced primarily by only a few large companies who own the intellectual property for the genetic variations. A transition to GM crops would closely align global food production with the activities of a few key companies. From an economic standpoint, that poses a risk to long-term food security by creating the potential for a single-point failure. In addition to this, if a rival state or enemy wishes to compromise a country’s food security, simply creating a disease that is capable of spreading and targeting a particular strain of a crop would be all that is required.
Health Impacts on Human Beings
There are some concerns about the potential negative health impacts of GMOs. While most notable organizations and research suggest that GMO foods are safe and sustainable, some people claim they may harm your health. Scientists have not yet shown that GMO foods are harmful to health, but research is ongoing and the lack of long term studies that do not prove or disprove the effects of GMOs on health is concerning.
Some of the concerns are regarding differences in nutritional content, allergic response, or undesired side effects such as toxicity, organ damage, or gene transfer. There is a small risk that GMO foods can trigger an allergic reaction, but this will only happen if the genetic change triggers the production of an allergen.
Those against GMOs cite their own scientific research that says GMOs cause allergies, infertility, reproductive problems, organ damage, insulin regulation problems, accelerated aging, immune problems, and changes to the gastrointestinal system. Serious adverse events of GMO consumption include mortality, tumour or cancer, significant low fertility, decreased learning and reaction abilities, and some organ abnormalities.
Seeing that what we consume constitutes a large part of how we age, our quality of life, and our lifespan, and that the U.S. government has allowed certain harmful chemicals within our air and foods in the past, I think a great deal of caution should be given to the consumption of GMOs without clinical trials or long term studies being conducted. If food is medicine, then I think it is not unreasonable to treat GMOs in the same manner as unproven pharmaceuticals or supplements.
How are GMOs different from Selective Breeding?
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and selective breeding are distinct methods used for modifying organisms, each with its own approach and outcomes. GMOs involve the direct manipulation of an organism’s genetic material through biotechnology, allowing for the precise introduction of specific traits by incorporating genes from different species. While GMOs enable rapid development of desired characteristics and the transfer of genes between incompatible species, concerns arise over unintended genetic alterations, potential environmental impacts, and unpredictable health effects, although comprehensive testing is conducted to mitigate these risks.
On the other hand, selective breeding, or artificial selection, leverages the natural genetic variation within a species by choosing organisms with desired traits for reproduction. Over time, this method leads to the accumulation of these traits in successive generations. While selective breeding relies on natural genetic compatibility and is generally considered a slower and less intrusive process, it can also introduce unintended genetic traits and might miss out on valuable characteristics from other species.
The safety of both GMOs and selective breeding depends on numerous factors, including the specific application, the traits being modified, and the effectiveness of regulatory oversight. Both methods have their merits and potential risks, making thorough assessment, testing, and regulation crucial to ensuring the safety of the resulting organisms and their impact on both human health and the environment. With that said, if the two methods accomplish the same thing, it can be argued that GMOs are just a more direct way of doing what we have been doing for more than a 10,000 years since farming was invented.
Closing Thoughts
The advantages and the disadvantages of GMOs are significant enough to warrant deeper thought about whether to use them or not within our agricultural industry. Since the technology has already reached a certain level of ubiquity, it is arguably here to stay. However, one should always keep in mind the risks that come with the convenience of GMOs so as to be prepared to adequately handle whatever consequences may come their way.
