Pros And Cons Of GMO Research

Imagine that as you walk through the grocery store with your family, you are presented with a view into the unknown. You see that, behind the scenes, the food in your cart and your children’s bellies is being formulated and altered from its original biology. You see that the fruits, veggies and canned goods you once feasted upon, have been genetically altered and induced with chemicals that parallel to weed and insect killers. Next, you observe as cows, pigs and chickens are shot up with steroids and growth hormones to provide you with the meat patties and yogurt in your cart. This is the unfortunate reality that we are hidden from as consumers; the thoughtfully concealed world of GMOs. GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, are organisms

The chemicals in GMOs and the pesticides sprayed on the resistant seeds, are often what seeps into the soil and remains there for a long time. These GE chemicals overtime will deplete the soil and cut out major diversity that is needed for healthy soil, and in turn, healthy crops. (Mercola, 2013) Organic farming, in an essence, does the opposite. While it is a main talking point for GMO supporters that GMOs out produce and have a higher yield than traditional or organic crops, GMO researcher Jeffrey Smith, says studies prove otherwise. In fact, according to Smith, who is also the author of the book and director of the movie “Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives,” he says that, “In the U.S., GMO grown side by side with organics show no difference in yield for soy and corn, except in times of drought, when the organic outperforms the GMO.” (Genetic Roulette, 2014) It is not unknown that our environment is very sensitive to these mild changes in its ecological makeup, therefore, we cannot afford to destroy this important dynamic, crucial to all

Monsanto, the leading producer in the U.S. for GMOs, reportedly owns over 80% of the corn and soy crop markets. (US and Monsanto, 2013) This wide market control makes it nearly impossible for small and non GMO farms to thrive. These small farmers often times fall victim to Monsanto and their sharp enforcement of crop patents. For example, if a non GMO farm is next to a farm using Monsanto’s GMO seeds, it is likely for there to be some naturally cross contamination, simply due to wind, animals and human interaction. However, even though this cross contamination is likely un-purposeful, Monsanto has been suing non GMO farmers, since 1997 for unlawfully using patented seeds. Factually, since 1997, Monsanto has entered over 145 lawsuits with smaller farmers, never losing a single one. This type of power that GE giants like Monsanto exhibit over the market and smaller business, is not only detrimental to those small businesses, but also to our economy. When monopolies can control the vast majority of the food prices, consumers fall second to their profits. Imagine that if the large GMO monopolies wanted to raise prices significantly in order to make up for lost crop in the past year. With them owning over 80% of the market, it would be incredibly difficult to find an alternative to their pricy products, perhaps not even at